title: Effect of deworming on disease progression markers in HIV-1-infected pregnant women on antiretroviral therapy: a longitudinal observational study from Rwanda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deworming human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) may be beneficial, particularly during pregnancy. We determined the efficacy of targeted and nontargeted antihelminth therapy and its effects on Plasmodium falciparum infection status, hemoglobin levels, CD4 counts, and viral load in pregnant, HIV-positive women receiving ART.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine hundred eighty HIV-infected pregnant women receiving ART were examined at 2 visits during pregnancy and 2 postpartum visits within 12 weeks. Women were given antimalarials when malaria-positive whereas albendazole was given in a targeted (n = 467; treatment when helminth stool screening was positive) or nontargeted (n = 513; treatment at all time points, with stool screening) fashion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were noted between targeted and nontargeted albendazole treatments for the variables measured at each study visit except for CD4 counts, which were lower (P < .05) in the latter group at the final visit. Albendazole therapy was associated with favorable changes in subjects' hemoglobin levels, CD4 counts, and viral loads, particularly with helminth infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antihelminthic therapy reduces detectable viral load, and increases CD4 counts and hemoglobin levels in pregnant HIV-infected women with helminth coinfections receiving ART.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali Department of Chemical Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Crowther
authors.affiliation: Rwanda Alliance for Sustainable Development, Kigali.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mutimura
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali.
authors.forename: Aniceth
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rucogoza
authors.affiliation: Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali.
authors.forename: Kato K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Njunwa
authors.affiliation: Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Grobusch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D012432:Rwanda; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D000962:Antimalarials
keywords: HIV; Rwanda; helminths; malaria; pregnancy