New drug combo eases mother-child HIV dilemma
Dec 02, 2007
A new drug could ease a dilemma that many HIV-positive mothers faced, a new study reported recently. Previously, a dose of niverapine during labour reduced the chances of the infant getting HIV by 40%. But if the newborn got infected, they were more likely to acquire a strain of HIV that was resista
A new drug could ease a dilemma that many HIV-positive mothers faced, a new study reported recently. Previously, a dose of niverapine during labour reduced the chances of the infant getting HIV by 40%. But if the newborn got infected, they were more likely to acquire a strain of HIV that was resistant to drugs raising the question of whether it was worth the risk.
A partial solution to this dilemma may be at hand, according to a study in The Lancet.
In a trial, 199 of 397 HIV+pregnant women at two health centres in Lusaka, Zambia, were given single doses of two other drugs – tenofovir and emtricitabine – along with the niverapine during birth.
The other 198 were given niverapine only. Both groups also took a small dose of a fourth drug, zidovudine.
Results showed the absolute risk of getting HIV was cut in half: 12% percent for the test group and 25% for the control group.
These results show adding tenofovir / emtricitabine to standard treatments may reduce maternal nevirapine resistance.
A partial solution to this dilemma may be at hand, according to a study in The Lancet.
In a trial, 199 of 397 HIV+pregnant women at two health centres in Lusaka, Zambia, were given single doses of two other drugs – tenofovir and emtricitabine – along with the niverapine during birth.
The other 198 were given niverapine only. Both groups also took a small dose of a fourth drug, zidovudine.
Results showed the absolute risk of getting HIV was cut in half: 12% percent for the test group and 25% for the control group.
These results show adding tenofovir / emtricitabine to standard treatments may reduce maternal nevirapine resistance.