Antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy and early neonatal life: consequences for HIV-exposed, uninfected children

Braz J Infect Dis. 2004 Apr;8(2):140-50. doi: 10.1590/s1413-86702004000200004. Epub 2004 Sep 8.

Abstract

Women have emerged as the fastest growing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected population worldwide, mainly because of the increasing occurrence of heterosexual transmission. Most infected women are of reproductive age and one of the greatest concerns for both women and their physicians is that more than 1,600 infants become infected with HIV each day. Almost all infections are a result of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. With the advent of combination antiretroviral therapies, transmission rates lower than 2% have been achieved in clinical studies. Antiretroviral compounds differ from most other new pharmaceutical agents in that they have become widely prescribed in pregnancy in the absence of proof of safety. We reviewed antiretroviral agents used in pregnant women infected with human immunodeficiency virus, mother-to-child transmission, and their consequences for infants.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
  • Lamivudine / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Zidovudine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Lamivudine
  • Zidovudine