Antiretroviral therapy and mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1.
The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy has facilitated the virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection in developed countries, reducing transmission rates to approximately 1 to 2%. In these settings, highly active antiretroviral therapy has also transformed pediatric HIV infection into a chronic disease; although there are associated costs in terms of side effects and the heavy pill burden. In less developed settings, easier-to-use adaptations of antiretroviral therapy regimens, such as short-course and single-dose antiretroviral strategies or neonatal postexposure prophylaxis can also substantially prevent mother-to-child transmission, although to a lesser degree than highly active antiretroviral therapy. However, postnatal transmission of infection through breastfeeding significantly reduces the longer-term efficacy of these strategies. Ongoing research is focusing on the use of antiretroviral therapy in the breastfeeding period.
Newell
Marie-Louise
ML
University College London, Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK. m.newell@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Thorne
Claire
C
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents