The relationship of pregnancy to the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy

Pharmacokinetics and Placental Transfer of Elvitegravir, Dolutegravir, and Other Antiretrovirals during Pregnancy

The integrase inhibitors elvitegravir (EVG) and dolutegravir (DTG) rapidly decrease the plasma HIV-1 viral load, a key factor in the prevention of maternal-to-fetal transmission of HIV-1. No data have been reported on the concentrations of these drugs in cord blood, maternal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), or placental tissue in pregnant women. We present in vivo pharmacokinetic data on antiretrovirals (ARV) within maternal and cord blood and within placentae from HIV-1-infected pregnant women. Maternal blood and cord blood were obtained from women receiving EVG, cobicistat, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and emtricitabine as a single fixed-dose combination formulation or DTG as part of a combination regimen. Plasma and PBMCs from maternal and cord blood were obtained along with villous placental samples. Drug concentrations were simultaneously determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Utilizing medians and ranges to interpret our data, we compared the drug concentration ratios between different matrices (maternal and cord blood plasma, PBMCs, and placenta). All five agents transferred from maternal into fetal circulation via the placenta. Concentration ratios for EVG, cobicistat, tenofovir, and emtricitabine (n = 10) and DTG (n = 3) were determined between cord plasma and placenta, cord and maternal plasma, and cord PBMCs and maternal PBMCs. TFV moves from maternal plasma through the placenta to the cord blood and then into cord PBMCs, where it is phosphorylated into its active forms (TFV diphosphate). These five ARVs were detected in each of the compartments, highlighting transfer of these agents from the maternal into the fetal circulation.

Chronic use of indinavir in albino rat pregnancy (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Rodentia, Mammalia): biological assay

AIM

Assess possible adverse effects of the chronic use of indinavir during pregnancy in a rat model.

METHODS

40 pregnant EOM-1 albino rats were randomly allocated into four groups of 10 animals each: a control (Ctr) group (without any handling) and three experimental groups (Exp 1, Exp 2 e Exp 3) which received indinavir 9, 27 e 81 mg/kg, respectively). Rats were treated by gavage once daily. The treatment period extended from day 0 until the 20th day of pregnancy. Body weights were recorded on days 0, 7, 14 and 20. At term, the rats were sacrificed, and the implantation sites, number of live and dead fetuses and placentas, resorptions, fetal and placental weights were recorded. The fetuses were evaluated for external abnormalities under a stereomicroscope.

RESULTS

Weight gain during pregnancy did not differ significantly between the groups. Average weight gains between the 7th and 20th day were 7.95-42.70 g; 7.22-45.27 g; 7.12-46.26 g and 8.05-42.29 g in groups Ctr, Exp 1, Exp 2 and Exp 3, respectively. All other parameters assessed did not differ significantly between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic use of various dosages of indinavir during pregnancy was not associated significant adverse outcomes.

Birth defects among a cohort of infants born to HIV-infected women on antiretroviral medication

OBJECTIVE

To determine rate of and risk factors for birth defects in infants born to HIV-infected women receiving nucleoside and protease inhibitor antiretroviral (ARV) therapy.

METHODS

Birth defects were evaluated among infants on the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 316 trial that studied addition of peripartum nevirapine to established ARV regimen for prevention of mother-to-child transmission. Maternal therapy was categorized by trimester of earliest exposure. Birth defects were coded using conventions of the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry.

RESULTS

Birth defects were detected in 60/1414 (4.2%; 95% CI 3.3-5.4%) infants including 30/636 (4.7%; 95% CI 3.2-6.7%) with first trimester ARV exposure and 30/778 (3.9%; 95% CI 2.6-5.5%) with exposure only after the first trimester (P=0.51). Rates of classes of defects were similar between first trimester compared to later exposure groups except heart defects which occurred in 16 (2.5%; 95% CI 1.4-4.1%) with first trimester ARV exposure and in six (0.8%; 95% CI 0.3-1.7%) infants with later exposure (P=0.02). Exposure to ARV was not associated with specific types of heart defects. Two cases of cardiomyopathy were noted.

CONCLUSION

ARV use in early pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of birth defects overall. The possible association of ARV exposure with heart defects requires further surveillance.

Oropharyngeal cancer: a potential consequence of concomitant HPV and HIV infection

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the principal cause of a distinct form of oropharyngeal cancer (OPCA) that has been rising in incidence in the United States since 1973, particularly among young men. The possible contribution of the HIV-epidemic to this increase is unclear.

RECENT FINDINGS

Incidence rates for HPV-related OPCA increased with age and were strongly influenced by year of birth in the United States (cohort effect). Persons with HIV/AIDS are at increased risk ( approximately two to six-fold) for OPCA relative to the general population. However, this excess risk may be attributable to tobacco smoking rather than the three-fold higher prevalence of oral HPV infection in this population. Consistent with a viral attribution, however, is the apparent increase in risk of OPCA with severity of AIDS-related immunosuppression. Analogous to other HPV-related cancers (e.g. cervical and anal cancer), trends over time do not appear to be influenced by highly active antiretroviral (HAART) therapy.

SUMMARY

Healthcare providers may encounter HPV-related OPCA more frequently among individuals with HIV/AIDS as this population ages and due to the strong birth cohort effects observed in the general population. However, there is no evidence in support of different incidence trends over time among persons with and without HIV/AIDS.

The importance of identifying and treating depression in HIV infected, pregnant women: a review

Women make up approximately half of all HIV infections worldwide. A substantial number of women living with HIV in the United States are of childbearing age and many of these women will become pregnant each year. These women must navigate the complexities of two health concerns (HIV infection and pregnancy) and the complexities of two health care provision systems (obstetrics and infectious disease). The goal of HIV treatment during pregnancy is to optimize health of the mother and minimize risk of vertical transmission. To realize these goals, high levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and periodic contact with medical professionals are required. Depression is not uncommon in pregnant women and has been identified as a robust predictor of non-adherence to ART and implicated in difficulty utilizing prenatal care. The purpose of the current article is to review evidence in support of diagnosis and treatment, when appropriate, of unipolar depression in HIV positive, pregnant women in developed nations. The article begins by defining the scope of the problem. Assessment and treatment options are discussed, followed by suggestions for future research.

Mutational analysis of the mitochondrial tRNA genes and flanking regions in umbilical cord tissue from uninfected infants receiving AZT-based therapies for prophylaxis of HIV-1

A sensitive vertical denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method, using 13 unipolar psoralen-clamped PCR primer pairs, was developed for detecting sequence variants in the 22 tRNA genes and flanking regions (together spanning approximately 21%) of the human mitochondrial genome. A study was conducted to determine (i) if mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms and/or mutations were detectable in healthy newborns and (ii) if prepartum 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT) based HIV-1 prophylaxis was associated with significant increases in mtDNA mutations and changes in the degree of heteroplasmy of sequence variants in uninfected infants born to HIV-1-infected mothers. DGGE analysis of umbilical cord tissue (where vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells are the major source of mtDNA) showed that mtDNA sequence variants were significantly elevated by threefold in AZT-treated infants compared with unexposed controls (P < 0.001), with 24 changes observed in 19/52 (37%) treated newborns (averaging 0.46 changes/subject) versus only eight changes found in 7/55 (13%) unexposed newborns (averaging 0.15 changes/subject). Six distinct sequence variants occurring in unexposed controls were predominately synonymous and homoplasmic, representing previously reported polymorphisms. Uninfected infants exposed to a combination of AZT and 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine and "maternal HIV-1" had a significant shift in the spectrum of mutations (P = 0.04) driven by increases in nonsynonymous heteroplasmic sequence variants at polymorphic sites (10 distinct variants) and novel sites (four distinct variants). While the weight of evidence suggests that prepartum AZT-based prophylaxis produces mtDNA mutations, additional research is needed to determine the degree to which fetal responses to maternal HIV-1 infection, in the absence of antiretroviral treatment, contribute to prenatal mtDNA mutagenesis.

Maternal antiretrovirals and hepatic enzyme, hematologic abnormalities among human immunodeficiency virus type 1-uninfected infants: the NISDI perinatal study

OBJECTIVES

To assess hepatic enzyme (HE) and hematologic abnormalities among human immunodeficiency virus-1-uninfected infants according to maternal antiretroviral regimen during pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN

In a prospective cohort, HE and hematologic values of human immunodeficiency virus-1-uninfected, term infants with hospital discharge (HD) within 6 days after birth were evaluated. Maternal antiretroviral regimens were categorized as: 1 or 2 nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitors (NRTIs), highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)/protease inhibitor (PI), or HAART/non-NRTI.

RESULTS

Among 503 infants, 63% and 24% had HE and hemoglobin abnormalities, respectively, at HD. Most or all HE and hemoglobin abnormalities (96-100%) were grade 1 or 2. At HD, infants with maternal HAART/PI or HAART/non-NRTI were more likely to have elevated HE [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.9, 2.4, respectively] compared with infants whose mothers received 1 or 2 NRTIs. Infants with maternal HAART/PI were less likely to have abnormal hemoglobin values at HD (AOR, 0.5) when compared with those whose mothers received 1 or 2 NRTIs. Persistently abnormal hemoglobin and HE values decreased with time, such that <10% of infants had abnormalities at 6 months of age.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal receipt of HAART regimens was associated with an increased risk of HE abnormalities, and maternal HAART/PI was associated with a lower risk of abnormal hemoglobin values, at HD. Abnormalities of HE and hemoglobin were generally mild and transient.

Trends in a Cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, 1996-2004

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in sociodemographic, immunological and virological profiles and interventions to decrease the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary institution in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from January 1996 to December 2004. Analysis was performed by stratification in three time periods: 1996-1998 (P1), 1999-2001 (P2) and 2002-2004 (P3). RESULTS: In 9 years, 622 pregnancies occurred. Complications included: maternal mortality 0.3%, stillbirths 2.5%, miscarriages 0.6%, neonatal mortality 1.1%, prematurity 9.9%, low birth weight (LBW) 16.5%, congenital malformations 2.2%. The number of HIV-infected pregnant patients grew threefold over time reflecting increased prevalence of disease and patient identification. HIV diagnosis before pregnancy increased from 30% in P1 to 45% in P3. The proportion of pregnant women receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy increased from none (P1) to 88% (P3) with a significant trend towards women delivering at undetectable viral loads in later years despite a higher frequency of advanced disease. Scheduled cesarean deliveries increased from 35% in P1 to 48% in P3. Perinatal transmission rates were 2.4% with a decline from 3.5% in P1 to 1.6% in P3. Neonatal outcomes tended to remain constant or improve with time. A slight rise in LBW and congenital malformations were observed. CONCLUSIONS: During the observational period, HIV+ pregnant women presented with more advanced disease and lower socio-economic status. However, improved management of HIV-infected patients (associated with increased identification and increased availability of treatment) resulted into very low transmission rates similar to those of developed countries with overall improvement of patient outcomes.

Teratogenicity risk of antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy

Highly active antiretroviral regimens are recommended for use in pregnancy to prevent vertical transmission of HIV, and many women enter pregnancy already on these regimens for their own health. Sources of data on the potential teratogenicity of antiretroviral drugs include animal studies, cohort studies, the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry, and case reports, but data on newly approved drugs are often limited. Thus far, concerns have been identified regarding a potential association between first trimester efavirenz exposure and neural tube defects based on a study in monkeys and case reports in humans, a possible association between first trimester exposure to zidovudine and an increased risk of hypospadias based on one cohort study, and an increased risk of septal heart defects in animals with delavirdine. Additional data on risks of antiretrovirals during pregnancy are needed. Providers should report cases of antiretroviral drug exposures during pregnancy to the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry.

Treating HIV During Pregnancy

The expanded use of multiple antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy has led to a reduction in the occurrence of perinatal transmission of HIV to <2%, but has led to concerns regarding both short-term toxicity and the long-term impact on the woman and her child. Enhanced toxicity of nevirapine has been noted among women with CD4+ lymphocyte counts >250 cells/microL at treatment initiation and among pregnant women on long-term didanosine and stavudine. These drugs should be avoided in such situations if alternatives are available. Efavirenz has been associated with birth defects in monkeys, and several cases of neural tube defects have been reported in humans after first trimester exposure, so treatment with this drug should be avoided during the first trimester. Protease inhibitors have been associated with an increased risk of maternal glucose intolerance, pre-eclampsia and preterm birth in some, but not all, studies. Pregnancies exposed to antiretroviral therapy should be registered with the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry as early in pregnancy as possible in order to provide data on the risk of birth defects after exposure. The pharmacokinetics of nucleoside and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are not significantly changed in pregnancy, so standard dosing may be used. However, concentrations of several protease inhibitors are lower in pregnancy, so ritonavir-boosting or increased doses are required. Of great theoretical concern is the impact of resistance mutations that develop following single-dose nevirapine therapy on the response to later therapy among women and their infected infants. The use of dual nucleoside therapy for 3-7 days after single-dose nevirapine in the mother reduces but does not eliminate the risk of nevirapine resistance; alternative regimens for prevention of resistance are under study, as are the subsequent responses of the mother and her infant to therapy. Short courses of prophylactic zidovudine and nevirapine have been well tolerated in neonates. Concern has been raised, however, that these exposures may lead to persistent mitochondrial dysfunction or later cancers, underscoring the need for long-term surveillance of antiretroviral-exposed, HIV-uninfected infants.

HIV and pregnancy: is the outlook for mother and baby transformed?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Advances in antiretroviral regimens and specific obstetrical procedures have enabled HIV-positive women to have children, with a very low risk of transmitting the infection to the infant and with improved chances of seeing their children reach adulthood. New studies have given providers of care better information on how to assist women with HIV who want to have a child in the safest possible way.

RECENT FINDINGS

Highly active antiretroviral therapy can effectively control viral replication and reduce the risk of vertical transmission. The benefit of treatment for the mother and the infant must be balanced against any negative effects on pregnancy, the embryo and the fetus. Potential long-term consequences of prenatal exposure to potent compounds should also be considered and monitored. The evidence suggests that even in women with undetectable viral load, Caesarean section reduces vertical transmission to the same degree as documented previously for all women. Although the absolute risk reduction is very low, no study can show whether or not this is statistically significant and therefore women should be helped to make their individual choice. Mothers with HIV should not breastfeed in countries where formula milk is easily available, however highly active antiretroviral therapy administered to mothers or infants may reduce the risk of postnatal HIV transmission.

SUMMARY

Counselling and assistance to conceive, modification of the therapeutic regimens and options about delivery have changed dramatically since the beginning of the HIV epidemic. Nowadays, women with HIV, similarly to uninfected women, can discuss with their doctors which therapeutic and treatment options would best fit their expectations of care.

Assessing the risk of birth defects associated with antiretroviral exposure during pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine teratogenic risk of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

STUDY DESIGN

The Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry (APR) monitors prenatal exposures to ARV drugs and pregnancy outcome through a prospective exposure-registration cohort. Statistical inference uses exact methods for binomial proportions.

RESULTS

Through July 2003, APR has monitored 3583 live births exposed to ARV. Among 1391 first trimester exposures, there were 38 birth defects, prevalence of 2.7% (95% CI 1.9-3.7), not significantly higher than the CDC's population surveillance rate, 3.1 per 100 live births (95% CI 3.1-3.2). For lamivudine, nelfinavir, nevirapine, stavudine, and zidovudine, sufficient numbers of live births (>200) following first-trimester exposures have been monitored to allow detection of a 2-fold increase in risk of birth defects overall; no increases have been detected.

CONCLUSION

APR data demonstrate no increase in prevalence of birth defects overall or among women exposed to lamivudine, nelfinavir, nevirapine, stavudine, and zidovudine.

Maternal toxicity and pregnancy complications in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women receiving antiretroviral therapy: PACTG 316

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate rates of maternal toxicity, pregnancy complications, and peripartum morbidity by type and duration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN

The Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group (PACTG) Protocol 316 (PACTG 316) study evaluated the addition of intrapartum/neonatal nevirapine to background ART to reduce perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). For this secondary analysis, women were categorized into one of six groups on the basis of ART during pregnancy (monotherapy [monoRx], combination without protease inhibitor [PI], combination with PI), and start time (early: before or during first trimester; late: second or third trimester).

RESULTS

One thousand four hundred seven women were included: 288 monoRx late, 34 monoRx early, 327 combo, no PI late, 175 combo, no PI early, 320 combo, PI late, and 263 combo, PI early. Symptoms and laboratory abnormalities of moderate grade or more occurred in less than 5% of women. Only gestational diabetes (highest in combo PI early) varied significantly by therapy group.

CONCLUSION

In HIV-infected women receiving prenatal care and ART, adverse events were uncommon.

Pregnancy rates and predictors of conception, miscarriage and abortion in US women with HIV

OBJECTIVE

To determine frequency and outcomes of pregnancy in US women with HIV before and after introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study at six US centers.

METHODS

HIV seropositive and at-risk seronegative women reported pregnancy outcomes at 6-month intervals during the period 1 October 1994 to 31 March 2002. Outcomes were tabulated and pregnancy rates calculated. Logistic regression defined outcome correlates.

RESULTS

Pregnancy rates were 7.4 and 15.2 per 100 person-years in seropositive and seronegative women, respectively (P < 0.0001). Among seropositives, 119 (36%) pregnancies ended in live birth, six (2%) in stillbirth, 126 (36%) in abortion, 83 (24%) in miscarriage, 16 (5%) in ectopic pregnancy, and two (1%) in other outcomes (P = nonsignificant versus seronegatives). Independent baseline correlates of conception in seropositives included younger age [odds ratio (OR), 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16-1.23], prior abortion (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.25-2.63), lower HIV RNA levels (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.10-1.54 for each log decrease), and being unmarried (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.02-2.44). Baseline antiretroviral use at baseline was linked to lower conception risk (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.49-0.98 for mono- or combination therapy; OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.03-4.28 for HAART). Abortion was less likely during the HAART era, (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.35-1.33 during the early HAART era; OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.23-0.90 during the later HAART era, compared with before HAART).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with HIV were less likely to conceive than at-risk uninfected women, but pregnancy outcomes were similar. Abortion became less common after the introduction of HAART.

The relationship of pregnancy to human immunodeficiency virus disease progression

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of pregnancy on progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease.

STUDY DESIGN

We compared the immunologic, clinical, and virologic courses of 953 women who had no additional pregnancy after their index pregnancy, with the courses of 329 women who had a second pregnancy subsequent to their index pregnancy. Baseline variables included use of antiretroviral therapy, and CD4 and HIV RNA values. A linear spline growth curve model was used to describe trajectories of variables. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess selected covariates on the time to development of clinical class C events or death.

RESULTS

Women with repeat pregnancies were less likely to be on antiretroviral therapy at baseline and had a higher CD4% count immediately after their first delivery. The average trajectory of CD4 values in the one-pregnancy group was almost identical to the average trajectory in the repeat pregnancy group. RNA levels in the single-pregnancy group started higher but ended lower than in the second-pregnancy group, although slope differences were modest. There were no significant differences in time to class C events, although women in the repeat-pregnancy group tended to survive longer.

CONCLUSION

Repeat pregnancies do not have significant effects on the course of HIV disease.

Antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected pregnant women and their infants: current interventions and challenges

Advances in antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women have improved maternal health and successfully reduced perinatal transmission from 25% to less than 5%. Maternal treatment is individualized and based on physical and laboratory evaluations. Three categories of drugs are currently approved for use in HIV disease including: (11 nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors; (2) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors; and (3) protease inhibitors. Treatment decisions during pregnancy are complex and require consideration of the physiologic changes of pregnancy, drug interactions, possible maternal and fetal side effects, and psychosocial issues that influence adherence to the chosen therapy.

Fetal and maternal outcome after administration of tenofovir to gravid rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Tenofovir has been shown to cross the placenta in quantities sufficient to sustain reductions in viral load in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected fetal monkeys. With chronic exposure (30 mg/kg), however, significant bone-related toxicity has been shown in approximately 25% of infants studied. Further investigations were conducted to determine whether the bone-related toxicity observed was initiated during fetal life. Gravid rhesus monkeys (n = 4) were administered tenofovir subcutaneously once daily from 20 to 150 days of gestation (30 mg/kg; term: 165 +/- 10 days). Fetuses were monitored sonographically, and maternal and fetal blood and urine samples were collected to assess hematologic parameters, clinical chemistry, insulin-like growth factor (IGF) levels, and bone biomarkers. Fetuses were delivered by hysterotomy near term for necropsy and evaluation of bone-related mechanical properties. Results of these studies have shown 1) normal fetal development, although overall body weights and crown-rump lengths were less than those for age-matched controls (p < or = .03); 2) a significant reduction in circulating IGF-I (p <.001); 3) a small reduction in fetal bone porosity (p < or = .03); and 4) transient alterations in maternal body weights and bone-related biomarkers during the treatment period. The results of these studies suggest that chronic fetal exposure to tenofovir at the maternal dose of 30 mg/kg throughout gestation can alter select fetal parameters and transiently affect maternal bone biomarkers.