Data from INSERM Advance Knowledge in HIV/AIDS

"Viral resistance occurs with a high frequency after single-dose nevirapine. We aimed to evaluate the tolerance and resistance profiles of a combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) given to HIV-1-infected delivering women and their newborns," scientists writing in the journal AIDS report.

"An open-label phase I/II trial in Cambodia, Cote d'Ivoire and South Africa. HIV-1-infected pregnant women received zidovudine from the enrollment until the beginning of labor, when single-dose nevirapine and two tablets of TDF/FTC were given. One daily tablet of TDF/FTC was then administered for 7 days postpartum. All infants received single-dose nevirapine with single-dose TDF (13 mg/kg) and single-dose FTC (2 mg/kg) and 1 week of zidovudine. Mothers and infants were followed for 2 months. Serious adverse events, kinetic of maternal plasma HIV-1 RNA, pediatric HIV infection and genotypic resistance and viral subtype were assessed.

Thirty-six HIV-1-infected pregnant women were enrolled: median age 28 years (interquartile range: 26-31 years), median CD4 cell count 462 cells/mu l (interquartile range: 376-632) and median HIV-1 RNA 3.7 log(10) copies/ml (interquartile range: 2.95-4.11).

Two infants had clinical serious adverse events, including one who died (neonatal sepsis).! One transient grade 3 neutropenia and two grade 3/4 hyperbilirubinemia were also reported in neonates. One HIV pediatric in-utero infection was diagnosed (2.8%; 95% confidence interval 0-15.4%). Genotypic viral resistance to nevirapine was detected in one mother out of 34 (2.9%) at one month postpartum, but was also detectable at enrollment," wrote E. Arrive and colleagues, INSERM.

The researchers concluded: "The combination of TDF/FTC to delivering women and their neonates appears well tolerated and to minimize the occurrence of nevirapine viral resistance."

Arrive and colleagues published their study in AIDS (Maternal and nenonatal tenofovir and emtricitabine to prevent vertical transmission of HIV-1: tolerance and resistance. AIDS, 2010;24(16):2478-2485).

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!