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CD4+ cell levels in HIV positive women decrease during pregnancy and post partum, which may indicate that HIV disease progression continues during pregnancy. Researchers compared percent changes in CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts in 192 HIV positive and 148 HIV negative women. Percent CD4+ cell counts in HIV negative women decreased during pregnancy and then rose in late pregnancy and post partum. In contrast, percent CD4+ counts in HIV positive women continued to decrease throughout pregnancy and post partum. Percent changes in CD8+ cell counts increased as delivery approached and then decreased and levelled off post partum for both HIV negative and HIV positive women. The increase in CD8+ levels may reduce the likelihood of HIV transmission to the infant during delivery.