title: Initiation of antiretroviral treatment in women after delivery can induce multiclass drug resistance in breastfeeding HIV-infected infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization currently recommends initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected lactating women with CD4+ cell counts <350 cells/μL or stage 3 or 4 disease. We analyzed antiretroviral drug resistance in HIV-infected infants in the Post Exposure Prophylaxis of Infants trial whose mothers initiated HAART postpartum (with a regimen of nevirapine [NVP], stavudine, and lamivudine). Infants in the trial received single-dose NVP and a week of zidovudine (ZDV) at birth; some infants also received extended daily NVP prophylaxis, with or without extended ZDV prophylaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed drug resistance in plasma samples collected from all HIV-infected infants whose mothers started HAART in the first postpartum year. Resistance testing was performed using the first plasma sample collected within 6 months after maternal HAART initiation. Categorical variables were compared by exact or trend tests; continuous variables were compared using rank-sum tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiclass resistance (MCR) was detected in HIV from 11 (29.7%) of 37 infants. Infants were more likely to develop MCR infection if their mothers initiated HAART earlier in the postpartum period (by 14 weeks vs after 14 weeks and up to 6 months vs after 6 months, P = .0009), or if the mother was exclusively breastfeeding at the time of HAART initiation (exclusive breastfeeding vs mixed feeding vs no breastfeeding, P = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postpartum maternal HAART initiation was associated with acquisition of MCR in HIV-infected breastfeeding infants. The risk was higher among infants whose mothers initiated HAART closer to the time of delivery or were still exclusively breastfeeding when they first reported HAART use.
authors: Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Fogel
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Taha E
authors: TE
authors: Taha
authors: Donald R
authors: DR
authors: Hoover
authors: Newton I
authors: NI
authors: Kumwenda
authors: Lynne M
authors: LM
authors: Mofenson
authors: Johnstone J
authors: JJ
authors: Kumwenda
authors: Mary Glenn
authors: MG
authors: Fowler
authors: Michael C
authors: MC
authors: Thigpen
authors: Susan H
authors: SH
authors: Eshleman
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024921:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010949:Plasma / Q000821:virology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral