High rates of baseline antiretroviral resistance among HIV-infected pregnant women in an HIV referral centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Resistance rates among antiretroviral regimens in pregnant people living with HIV

OBJECTIVES

To update nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and protease inhibitor (PI) resistance rates and describe the frequency of HIV subtypes in a cohort of pregnant people living with HIV (PPLH) at a national Prevention of Mother-To-Child HIV Transmission (PMTCT) centre.

METHODS

We evaluated genotypic resistance among PPLH during prenatal care who were antiretroviral therapy-naïve or experienced. We determined mutations by the Surveillance of Drug Resistance Mutations (SDRM) dataset and also focused on studying participants with intermediate or high resistance defined through the Stanford score.

RESULTS

From 2018 to 2021, 1170 PPLH received prenatal care at the centre and 550 were genotyped. Among the 295 SDRMs, with respect to NRTI resistance mutations, there were 27/295 (9.2%) M184V/I, 14/295 (4.7%) T215Y/C/D/E/F/V/I/S and 12/295 (4.1%) M41L. For NNRTI, there were 75/295 (25.4%) K103N, 18/295 (6.1%) M230L and 14/295 (4.7%) G190A/E/S mutations. For PI, the most frequent mutations were 13/295 (4.4%) V82A/S/F/T, 12/295 (4.1%) M46I/L and 10/295 (3.4%) D30N. Based on the Stanford score, 36/224 (16%) naïve participants had one or more antiretroviral resistance mutations, 81% of whom had NNRTI resistance. In the treatment-experience group, 108/326 (33%) had one or more mutations, 91% of whom had NNRTI resistance. The most frequent HIV subtype was B (82.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that continuous surveys of HIV genotype appear to be important tools to map the distribution and evolution of HIV subtypes and resistance to provide information to support treatment policies. Furthermore, concerns about the use of rilpivirine-containing regimens underscore the importance of resistance surveillance.

Post-Natal Anti-Retroviral Prophylaxis for Neonates Born to Mothers Living with Resistant HIV Infection

Mother-to-child transmission accounts for the majority of new HIV infections among children worldwide. Post-natal prophylaxis, in addition to other preventive measures, have been very successful in reducing transmission to babies born to mothers living with HIV infection to <2%. Single-drug prophylaxis with zidovudine is the mainstay regimen for infants in low-risk transmission settings. The optimal regimen for newborns of women with anti-retroviral (ARV)-resistant HIV is unknown. We report a baby born to a young mother living with highly resistant perinatally-acquired HIV at a tertiary care centre in Sydney, Australia, in 2018. Furthermore, the challenges with giving postnatal ARV prophylaxis to her baby, in light of the lack of dosing and safety data for many antiretroviral agents for neonates, is discussed. The baby received a combination of lamivudine and raltegravir for a total of six weeks and he was not breast-fed. He had negative HIV proviral DNA polymerase chain reaction at six weeks and three months and a negative HIV serology at 18 months of age.

Pregnancy in women living with perinatally acquired HIV: Perinatal outcomes and drug resistance profile

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the perinatal outcomes of Perinatally acquired HIV Infection (PHIV) in pregnant women.

METHOD

This retrospective cohort study included singleton pregnancies in Women Living with HIV (WLH) between 2006 and 2019. Patient charts were revised, and maternal characteristics, type of HIV infection (perinatal vs. behavioral), Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) exposure, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes were assessed. The HIV-related aspects considered were: Viral Load (VL), CD4+ cell count, opportunistic infections, and genotype testing. Laboratory analyses were performed at baseline (first appointment) and 34 weeks of gestation.

RESULTS

There were 186 WLH pregnancies, and 54 (29%) patients had PHIV. Patients with PHIV were younger (p < 0.001), had less frequently stable partnerships (p < 0.001), had more commonly serodiscordant partners (p < 0.001), had a longer time on ART (p < 0.001), and had lower rates of undetectable VL at baseline (p = 0.046) and at 34 weeks of gestation (p < 0.001). No association was observed between PHIV and adverse perinatal outcomes. Among patients with PHIV, third trimester anemia was associated with preterm birth (p = 0.039). Genotype testing was available only for 11 patients with PHIV, who presented multiple mutations related to ART resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

PHIV did not seem to increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. However, PHIV pregnancies have a higher risk of viral suppression failure and exposure to complex ARTs.

Maternal HIV drug resistance is associated with vertical transmission and is prevalent in infected infants

BACKGROUND

We aimed to assess if maternal HIV drug resistance is associated with an increased risk of HIV vertical transmission and to describe the dynamics of drug resistance in HIV-infected infants.

METHODS

A case-control study of PROMISE study participants. "Cases" were mother-infant pairs with HIV vertical transmission during pregnancy or breastfeeding and "controls" were mother-infant pairs without transmission matched 1:3 by delivery date and clinical site. Genotypic HIV drug resistance analyses were performed on mothers' and their infants' plasma at or near the time of infant HIV diagnosis. Longitudinal analysis of genotypic resistance was assessed in available specimens from infants, from diagnosis and beyond, including ART initiation and last study visits.

RESULTS

Our analyses included 85 cases and 255 matched controls. Maternal HIV drug resistance, adjusted for plasma HIV RNA load at infant HIV diagnosis, enrollment CD4 count, and antepartum regimens, was not associated with in utero/peripartum HIV transmission. In contrast, both maternal plasma HIV RNA load and HIV drug resistance were independent risk factors associated with vertical transmission during breastfeeding. Furthermore, HIV drug resistance was selected across infected infants during infancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal HIV drug resistance and maternal viral load were independent risk factors for vertical transmission during breastfeeding, suggesting that nevirapine alone may be insufficient infant prophylaxis against drug-resistant variants in maternal breast milk. These findings support efforts to achieve suppression of HIV replication during pregnancy and suggest that breastfeeding infants may benefit from prophylaxis with a greater barrier to drug resistance than nevirapine alone.

Raltegravir versus efavirenz in antiretroviral-naive pregnant women living with HIV (NICHD P1081): an open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 4 trial

BACKGROUND

Although antiretroviral regimens containing integrase inhibitors rapidly suppress HIV viral load in non-pregnant adults, few published data from randomised controlled trials have compared the safety and efficacy of any integrase inhibitor to efavirenz when initiated during pregnancy. We compared safety and efficacy of antiretroviral therapy with either raltegravir or efavirenz in late pregnancy.

METHODS

An open-label, randomised controlled trial was done at 19 hospitals and clinics in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, and the USA. Antiretroviral-naive pregnant women (20-<37 weeks gestation) living with HIV were assigned to antiretroviral regimens containing either raltegravir (400 mg twice daily) or efavirenz (600 mg each night) plus lamivudine 150 mg and zidovudine 300 mg twice daily (or approved alternative backbone regimen), using a web-based, permuted-block randomisation stratified by gestational age and backbone regimen. The primary efficacy outcome was plasma HIV viral load below 200 copies per mL at (or near) delivery. The primary efficacy analysis included all women with a viral load measurement at (or near) delivery who had viral load of at least 200 copies per mL before treatment and no genotypic resistance to any study drugs; secondary analyses eliminated these exclusion criteria. The primary safety analyses included all women who received study drug, and their infants. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT01618305.

FINDINGS

From Sep 5, 2013, to Dec 11, 2018, 408 women were enrolled (206 raltegravir, 202 efavirenz) and 394 delivered on-study (200 raltegravir, 194 efavirenz); 307 were included in the primary efficacy analysis (153 raltegravir, 154 efavirenz). 144 (94%) women in the raltegravir group and 129 (84%) in the efavirenz group met the primary efficacy outcome (absolute difference 10%, 95% CI 3-18; p=0·0015); the difference primarily occurred among women enrolling later in pregnancy (interaction p=0·040). Frequencies of severe or life-threatening adverse events were similar among mothers (30% in each group; 61 raltegravir, 59 efavirenz) and infants (25% in each group; 50 raltegravir, 48 efavirenz), with no treatment-related deaths.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings support major guidelines. The integrase inhibitor dolutegravir is currently a preferred regimen for the prevention of perinatal HIV transmission with raltegravir recommended as a preferred or alternative integrase inhibitor for pregnant women living with HIV.

FUNDING

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Treatment dropout after pregnancy: a study of women living with HIV in Rio de Janeiro

Despite the investment in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, there is still little data about the proportion of women that are retained in treatment after pregnancy in Brazil. Research worldwide shows that a significant proportion of women drop out of treatment after pregnancy. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with treatment dropout of women that received prenatal care at a federal hospital in Rio de Janeiro between 2016 and 2017 and abandoned treatment after pregnancy. This was a retrospective cohort study using data on prescription refills and hospital medical records. Cross-sectional analysis of data from 454 women showed that 18% were not on cART after pregnancy. Illicit drug use during pregnancy, being less than 35 years old, and being aware of HIV diagnosis before conceiving but not taking cART were factors associated with treatment interruption postpartum. The high prevalence of interruption of HIV treatment after pregnancy suggests that there is a need for better post-natal care to increase adherence in this population.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antiretroviral Resistance and Transmission in Mother-Infant Pairs Enrolled in a Large Perinatal Study

Background

The presence of antiretroviral drug-associated resistance mutations (DRMs) may be particularly problematic in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women as it can lead to mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of resistant HIV strains. This study evaluated the prevalence and the effect of antiretroviral DRMs in previously untreated mother-infant pairs.

Methods

A case-control design of 1:4 (1 transmitter to 4 nontransmitters) was utilized to evaluate DRMs as a predictor of HIV MTCT in specimens obtained from mother-infant pairs. ViroSeq HIV-1 genotyping was performed on mother-infant specimens to assess for clinically relevant DRMs.

Results

One hundred forty infants acquired HIV infection; of these, 123 mother-infant pairs (88%) had specimens successfully amplified using ViroSeq and assessed for drug resistance genotyping. Additionally, 483 of 560 (86%) women who did not transmit HIV to infants also had samples evaluated for DRMs. Sixty-three of 606 (10%) women had clinically relevant DRMs; 12 (2%) had DRMs against >1 drug class. Among 123 HIV-infected infants, 13 (11%) had clinically relevant DRMs, with 3 (2%) harboring DRMs against >1 drug class. In univariate and multivariate analyses, DRMs in mothers were not associated with increased HIV MTCT (adjusted odds ratio, 0.8 [95% confidence interval, .4-1.5]). Presence of DRMs in transmitting mothers was strongly associated with DRM presence in their infants (P < .001).

Conclusions

Preexisting DRMs were common in untreated HIV-infected pregnant women, but did not increase the risk of HIV MTCT. However, if women with DRMs are not virologically suppressed, they may transmit resistant mutations, thus complicating infant management.

Viral and antiretroviral dynamics in HIV mother-to-child transmission fluids (VADICT) – Protocol and data analysis plan for a cohort study

Background: Pregnancy and polymorphisms in drug disposition genes alter the clearance of key antiretrovirals used as part of regimens for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). The clinical significance of these in women initiating therapy late in pregnancy has not been investigated. The primary objective of the Viral and Antiretroviral Dynamics in HIV Mother-To-Child Transmission Fluids (VADICT) study is to investigate viral and antiretroviral dynamics in matrices associated with mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) (plasma, genital fluid and breastmilk) in women (stratified by CYP2B6 genotypes) who initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) before or early in pregnancy versus late in pregnancy or early postpartum. Methods: A cohort of HIV-1 infected women who initiated ART containing 600 mg efavirenz before or early in pregnancy (n = 120), during the third trimester (n = 60), or early postpartum (n = 60) will be studied.  Eligible patients will be recruited from four hospitals in Benue State, North Central Nigeria and followed until the end of breastfeeding. Procedures at follow up visits will include sample collection for drug quantification and HIV-1 RNA and DNA in plasma, genital fluid and breastmilk; adherence monitoring; and newborn and infant assessment. Using newborn exposure to maternal efavirenz at birth for validation, prenatal pharmacogenetics of efavirenz will be explored using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling. Three integrated methods will be used to monitor patterns and correlates of adherence across pregnancy and the breastfeeding period. A population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model will be developed to describe the observed data and simulate what to expect in women initiating ART containing 400 mg efavirenz (recently approved for non-pregnant adults) late in pregnancy or early postpartum. Discussion: This study will help in understanding residual MTCT in women receiving ART and reasons for the rise in MTCT risk during the breastfeeding period. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03284645 (15/09/2017)

Lower genetic variability of HIV-1 and antiretroviral drug resistance in pregnant women from the state of Pará, Brazil

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to describe the genetic diversity of HIV-1, as well as the resistance profile of the viruses identified in HIV-1 infected pregnant women under antiretroviral therapy in the state of Pará, Northern Brazil.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from 45 HIV-1 infected pregnant to determine the virus subtypes according to the HIV-1 protease (PR) gene and part of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) gene by sequencing the nucleotides of these regions. Drug resistance mutations and susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs were analyzed by the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database.

RESULTS

Out of 45 samples, only 34 could be amplified for PR and 30 for RT. Regarding the PR gene, subtypes B (97.1%) and C (2.9%) were identified; for the RT gene, subtypes B (90.0%), F (6.7%), and C (3.3%) were detected. Resistance to protease inhibitors (PI) was identified in 5.8% of the pregnant, and mutations conferring resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were found in 3.3%, while mutations conferring resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were found in 3.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed a low frequency of strains resistant to antiretroviral drugs, the prevalence of subtypes B and F, and the persistent low transmission of subtype C in pregnant of the state of Pará, Brazil.

High HIV-1 Diversity and Prevalence of Transmitted Drug Resistance Among Antiretroviral-Naive HIV-Infected Pregnant Women from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Antiretroviral (ARV) resistance mutations in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection may reduce the efficacy of prophylactic therapy to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and future treatment options. This study evaluated the diversity and the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) regions of HIV-1 pol gene among 87 ARV-naive HIV-1-infected pregnant women from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2012 and 2015. The viral diversity comprised HIV-1 subtypes B (67.8%), F1 (17.2%), and C (4.6%); the circulating recombinant forms 12_BF (2.3%), 28/29_BF, 39_BF, 02_AG (1.1% each) and unique recombinants forms (4.5%). The overall prevalence of any TDR was 17.2%, of which 5.7% for nucleoside RT inhibitors, 5.7% for non-nucleoside RT inhibitors, and 8% for PR inhibitors. The TDR prevalence found in this population may affect the virological outcome of the standard PMTCT ARV-regimens, reinforcing the importance of continuous monitoring.

HIV-1 Variants and Drug Resistance in Pregnant Women from Bata (Equatorial Guinea): 2012-2013

Objectives

This is the first study describing drug resistance mutations (DRM) and HIV-1 variants among infected pregnant women in Equatorial Guinea (GQ), a country with high (6.2%) and increasing HIV prevalence.

Methods

Dried blood spots (DBS) were collected from November 2012 to December 2013 from 69 HIV-1 infected women participating in a prevention of mother-to-child transmission program in the Hospital Regional of Bata and Primary Health Care Centre María Rafols, Bata, GQ. The transmitted (TDR) or acquired (ADR) antiretroviral drug resistance mutations at partial pol sequence among naive or antiretroviral therapy (ART)-exposed women were defined following WHO or IAS USA 2015 lists, respectively. HIV-1 variants were identified by phylogenetic analyses.

Results

A total of 38 of 69 HIV-1 specimens were successfully amplified and sequenced. Thirty (79%) belonged to ART-experienced women: 15 exposed to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) monotherapy, and 15 to combined ART (cART) as first regimen including two NRTI and one non-NRTI (NNRTI) or one protease inhibitor (PI). The TDR rate was only found for PI (3.4%). The ADR rate was 37.5% for NNRTI, 8.7% for NRTI and absent for PI or NRTI+NNRTI. HIV-1 group M non-B variants caused most (97.4%) infections, mainly (78.9%) recombinants: CRF02_AG (55.2%), CRF22_A101 (10.5%), subtype C (10.5%), unique recombinants (5.3%), and A3, D, F2, G, CRF06_cpx and CRF11_cpx (2.6% each).

Conclusions

The high rate of ADR to retrotranscriptase inhibitors (mainly to NNRTIs) observed among pretreated pregnant women reinforces the importance of systematic DRM monitoring in GQ to reduce HIV-1 resistance transmission and to optimize first and second-line ART regimens when DRM are present.

Surveillance of HIV Transmitted Drug Resistance in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

HIV transmitted drug resistance (TDR) remains at moderate level in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). However, different epidemiologic scenarios could influence national and sub-regional TDR levels and trends.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We performed a systematic review of currently available publications on TDR in antiretroviral treatment-naïve adults in LAC. Ninety-eight studies published between January 2000 and June 2015 were included according to critical appraisal criteria and classified by sub-region: Brazil (50), Mesoamerica (17), Southern Cone (16), Andean (8) and Caribbean (7). From these, 81 studies encompassing 11,441 individuals with data on DR mutation frequency were included in a meta-analysis. Overall TDR prevalence in LAC was 7.7% (95% CI: 7.2%-8.2%). An increasing trend was observed for overall TDR when comparing 2000-2005 (6.0%) and 2006-2015 (8.2%) (p<0.0001), which was associated with significant NNRTI TDR increase (p<0.0001). NRTI TDR decreased (4.5% vs. 2.3%, p<0.0001). NNRTI TDR increase was associated mainly with K101E, K103N and G190A. NRTI TDR decrease was associated mainly with M184V, K70R and T215Y. All sub-regions reached moderate overall TDR levels. The rapid increase in TDR to all antiretroviral classes in the Caribbean is notable, as well as the significant increase in NNRTI TDR reaching moderate levels in the Southern Cone. NRTI TDR was dominant in 2000-2005, mainly in the Caribbean, Mesoamerica and Brazil. This dominance was lost in 2006-2015 in all sub-regions, with the Southern Cone and the Caribbean switching to NNRTI dominance. PI TDR remained mostly constant with a significant increase only observed in the Caribbean.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the high conceptual and methodological heterogeneity of HIV TDR studies, implementation of surveys with standardized methodology and national representativeness is warranted to generate reliable to inform public health policies. The observed increasing trend in NNRTI TDR supports the need to strengthen TDR surveillance and programme monitoring and evaluation in LAC.

Viral Suppression and Resistance in a Cohort of Perinatally-HIV Infected (PHIV+) Pregnant Women

Our objective was to describe viral suppression and antiretroviral (ARV) resistance mutations in an ongoing cohort of perinatally-infected HIV+ (PHIV+) pregnant women. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0. From 2011 to 2014, we followed 22 PHIV+ pregnant women. Median age at prenatal entry was 19 years (Interquartile range (IQR) 17.6–21.0); 86% had an AIDS diagnosis; 81% had disclosed their HIV status to partner 11. The median age at HIV diagnosis was 8.3 y (IQR 4.0–13.6), the median age at sexual debut was 16 years (IQR 14–18). At the time of prenatal care initiation, four (18%) were on their first antiretroviral treatment (ART), eight (36%) in their second regimen and nine (41%) in their third regimen or beyond, and one had no data. Seventeen of 22 (77%) had HIV-viral load (VL) > 50 copies/mL at prenatal care entry, 16 had a genotyping exam performed. Seventeen of 22 PHIV+ had VL results near delivery: 7/17 (41%) had VL < 50 copies/mL. Among those who had genotyping at prenatal entry, 11/16 (69%) had mutations associated with ARV resistance. The most frequent major mutations were K103N, M184V, T215, M41L, D67N at reverse transcriptase gene and M46, I54V and V82A at protease gene. No vertical transmissions occurred. Management of pregnancy among PHIV+ is challenging. Individualized ART are needed to achieve viral suppression in a highly ART-exposed subpopulation.