Antiretroviral regimens in pregnancy and breast-feeding in Botswana

BACKGROUND

The most effective highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to prevent mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in pregnancy and its efficacy during breast-feeding are unknown.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 560 HIV-1-infected pregnant women (CD4+ count, > or = 200 cells per cubic millimeter) to receive coformulated abacavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine (the nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor [NRTI] group) or lopinavir-ritonavir plus zidovudine-lamivudine (the protease-inhibitor group) from 26 to 34 weeks' gestation through planned weaning by 6 months post partum. A total of 170 women with CD4+ counts of less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter received nevirapine plus zidovudine-lamivudine (the observational group). Infants received single-dose nevirapine and 4 weeks of zidovudine.

RESULTS

The rate of virologic suppression to less than 400 copies per milliliter was high and did not differ significantly among the three groups at delivery (96% in the NRTI group, 93% in the protease-inhibitor group, and 94% in the observational group) or throughout the breast-feeding period (92% in the NRTI group, 93% in the protease-inhibitor group, and 95% in the observational group). By 6 months of age, 8 of 709 live-born infants (1.1%) were infected (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5 to 2.2): 6 were infected in utero (4 in the NRTI group, 1 in the protease-inhibitor group, and 1 in the observational group), and 2 were infected during the breast-feeding period (in the NRTI group). Treatment-limiting adverse events occurred in 2% of women in the NRTI group, 2% of women in the protease-inhibitor group, and 11% of women in the observational group.

CONCLUSIONS

All regimens of HAART from pregnancy through 6 months post partum resulted in high rates of virologic suppression, with an overall rate of mother-to-child transmission of 1.1%. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00270296.)

A novel process for the manufacturing of porous grafts: process description and product evaluation

A novel process has been developed for the manufacture of porous vascular grafts from solutions or melts of polymers. It allows the manufacture of grafts with controllable porosity, pore size, and mechanical properties. In this process, the polymer melt or polymer solution is extruded through fine orifices; the fibers are then stretched and wound on a rotating mandril. Fiber-fiber bonding takes place, resulting in the formation of stable porous tubes. The effects of the process variables on the physical properties of the resulting graft have been studied and preliminary in vivo evaluation in dogs has demonstrated graft patency with a thin, stable neointima in both small (4 mm) and large (10 mm) caliber configurations.