Antiretroviral therapy and premature delivery in diagnosed HIV-infected women in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the association between antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy and premature delivery, birthweight, stillbirth and neonatal mortality, in pregnancies in HIV-infected women delivering between 1990 and 2005.


METHODS
Pregnancies in women with diagnosed HIV infection in the UK and Ireland are notified to the National Study of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood (NSHPC) through a well-established surveillance scheme.


RESULTS
The prematurity rate (< 37 weeks gestation) was higher in women on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (14.1%, 476/3384) than in women on mono/dual therapy (10.1%, 107/1061), even after adjusting for ethnicity, maternal age, clinical status and injecting drug use as the source of HIV acquisition [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19-1.93; P = 0.001]. Delivery at < 35 weeks was even more strongly associated with HAART (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI, 1.64-3.37; P < 0.001). The effect was the same whether or not HAART included a protease inhibitor. In comparison with exposure to mono/dual therapy, exposure to HAART was associated with lower birthweight standardized for gestational age (P < 0.001), and an increased risk of stillbirth (AOR = 2.27; 95% CI, 0.96-5.41; P = 0.063).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings, based on comprehensive population surveillance, demonstrate an increased risk of prematurity associated with HAART, and a possible association with other perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth and birthweight. Although the beneficial effects of antiretroviral therapy on mother-to-child transmission are indisputable, monitoring antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy remains a priority.
Townsend
Claire L
CL
Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
Cortina-Borja
Mario
M
Peckham
Catherine S
CS
Tookey
Pat A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008875:Middle Aged; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D050497:Stillbirth; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents