By December 31, 1986, 38 cases of AIDS had been notified in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). Transmission of the disease was predominantly heterosexual; 79 p. 100 of the patients were devoid of risk factor. Sex ratio was 2.2, but the disease, which initially was mostly observed in men, seems to be developing rapidly in women. Fearing an increase in infantile mortality due to AIDS, the authors recommend routine screening of pregnant women for anti-HIV antibody.