Puerperal febrile morbidity associated with the reverse transcriptase inhibitor stavudine

We report a case of postpartum drug fever associated with stavudine, a new reverse transcriptase inhibitor. A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient experienced fevers to 102.6 degrees F following vaginal delivery and bilateral partial salpingectomy. When history, physical, laboratory, and radiographic evaluations did not reveal a source of infection, discontinuation of the stavudine led to rapid defervescence within 28 hours. Stavudine-associated fever may be a cause of puerperal febrile morbidity in the HIV-seropositive patient without a source of infection.