Nelfinavir and nevirapine side effects during pregnancy.
BACKGROUND
The risk of vertical transmission of HIV has been substantially reduced since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART); however, the impact of taking HAART during pregnancy on the woman, the fetus and the infant is not yet understood.


OBJECTIVE
To assess and compare tolerability, safety and efficacy of nelfinavir- or nevirapine-containing HAART in a cohort of pregnant and non-pregnant HIV-infected women in The Netherlands.


METHODS
Retrospective comparative study.


METHODS
In 15 centres specializing in HIV in The Netherlands, data on patient characteristics, HAART, adverse events, viral load response, mode of delivery and HIV status of the neonate were obtained from medical records of HIV-infected pregnant women who received HAART during pregnancy between January 1997 and June 2003. These data were compared with a control group of HIV-infected non-pregnant women that was obtained from the Dutch HIV-monitoring foundation database.


RESULTS
Data from 186 pregnant and 186 non-pregnant HIV-infected women using a nelfinavir- or nevirapine-containing regimen were analysed. The pregnant women were younger, used a nelfinavir containing regimen more often, had higher CD4 cell counts and lower HIV RNA levels. Nelfinavir-related gastrointestinal symptoms (P < 0.001), hyperglycaemia (P < 0.001) and nevirapine-related hepatotoxicity (P = 0.003) occurred more often during pregnancy. The risk of nevirapine-induced rash was not increased. No major adverse events occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Nelfinavir- or nevirapine-containing HAART regimens during pregnancy are well tolerated. Side effects of antiretroviral therapy are more frequent in pregnant than in non-pregnant women.
Timmermans
Sarah
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam.
Tempelman
Claire
C
Godfried
Mieke H
MH
Nellen
Jeanine
J
Dieleman
Jeanne
J
Sprenger
Herman
H
Schneider
Margriet Ee
ME
de Wolf
Frank
F
Boer
Kees
K
van der Ende
Marchina E
ME
D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D019888:Nelfinavir / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009426:Netherlands; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019829:Nevirapine; D019888:Nelfinavir