Outcomes of fertility investigations in a cohort of adults with perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection: a UK cross-sectional observational study

Adults with Perinatally Acquired HIV; Emerging Clinical Outcomes and Data Gaps

In resourced settings, adults living with perinatally acquired HIV are approaching the 5th decade of life. Their clinical and psychological outcomes highlight potential future issues for the much larger number of adolescents growing up with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, and will inform the development of appropriate healthcare services. Lifelong exposure to HIV, and increasingly to antiretroviral therapy throughout growth and development, contrasts with adults acquiring HIV in later life. This review describes the clinical outcomes for adults living with perinatally acquired HIV including post transition mortality, morbidity and retention in care. Rates of viral suppression, drug resistance and immunological function are explored. Co-morbidities focus on metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory and bone health with quality-of-life data including neurocognitive functioning and mental health. Sexual and reproductive health including vaccine-preventable disease and the prevention of onward transmission to partners and infants are considered. The data gaps and future research questions to optimise outcomes for this emerging adult cohort are highlighted.

Markers of ovarian reserve in women living with HIV: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels indicate ovarian reserve and are predictive of reproductive aging. Studies evaluating AMH levels in women with HIV have produced conflicting results, and reasons for inter-study differences have not been assessed. To understand reproductive aging in HIV, we conducted a systematic review of ovarian reserve among women with HIV.

METHODS

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and CAB Direct for studies including AMH in reproductive-aged women with HIV. Two reviewers used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to assess the quality of extracted data.

RESULTS

Of the 315 reports screened, ten met the inclusion criteria. Studies were conducted across seven countries and included 3673 women with HIV and 2342 HIV-negative women in the comparison group. Ethnic distribution, combination antiretroviral therapy coverage, and viral load suppression varied considerably across studies. Nine of the ten reviewed studies reported lower unadjusted AMH levels in women with HIV than in those without HIV; however, in studies that adjusted for confounders (n = 4), only two showed an association between HIV and AMH. Low CD4 count and high viral load correlated with low AMH in the two largest studies. Other studies found that opioid use and elevated inflammatory markers were associated with low AMH. Study quality varied considerably, and many were of low quality (n = 6).

CONCLUSION

Current evidence is inconclusive about the relationship between HIV and AMH, although studies suggest a trend toward lower AMH among women with HIV. Future studies that adjust for HIV-related factors, inflammatory markers, and substance use are needed in the era of contemporary HIV care to confirm the association between HIV and reduced ovarian reserve and establish its underlying cause.