Recommendations for Use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant HIV-1-Infected Women for Maternal Health and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States
Postpartum Management
Long-Term Follow-Up of Antiretroviral Drug-Exposed Infants
(Last updated:9/14/2011)
Panel’s Recommendations:
- Children with in utero/neonatal exposure to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs who develop significant organ system abnormalities of unknown etiology, particularly of the nervous system or heart, should be evaluated for potential mitochondrial dysfunction (CIII).
- Follow-up of children with exposure to ARVs should continue into adulthood because of the theoretical concerns regarding the potential for carcinogenicity of nucleoside analogue ARV drugs (CIII).
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Data remain insufficient to address the effect that exposure to zidovudine or other ARV agents in utero might have on long-term risk of neoplasia or organ system toxicities in children. Data from follow-up of PACTG 076 infants through age 6 years do not indicate any differences in immunologic, neurologic, and growth parameters between infants who were exposed to the zidovudine regimen and those who received placebo, and no malignancies have been seen [1-3]. As discussed earlier in NRTI Drugs and Mitochondrial Toxicity, data are conflicting regarding whether mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with perinatal exposure to ARVs. Mitochondrial dysfunction should be considered in uninfected children with perinatal exposure to ARVs who present with severe clinical findings of unknown etiology, particularly neurologic findings.
Evaluation is ongoing of early and late effects of in utero exposure to ARVs, including the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS), Surveillance Monitoring of Antiretroviral Toxicity Study, natural history studies, and HIV/AIDS surveillance conducted by state health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because most of the available follow-up data relate to in utero exposure to antenatal zidovudine alone and most pregnant women with HIV infection currently receive combination ARV drug regimens, it is critical that studies to evaluate potential adverse effects of in utero drug exposure continue to be supported.
Innovative methods are needed to provide follow-up of infants with in utero exposure to ARV drugs. Information regarding such exposure should be part of ongoing permanent medical records for children, particularly those who are uninfected. Children with in utero exposure to ARVs who develop significant organ system abnormalities of unknown etiology, particularly of the nervous system or heart, should be evaluated for potential mitochondrial dysfunction [4-6]. Follow-up of children with exposure to ARVs should continue into adulthood because of the theoretical concerns regarding the potential for carcinogenicity of the nucleoside analogue ARV drugs. Long-term follow-up should include annual physical examinations of all children exposed to ARV drugs.
HIV surveillance databases from states that require HIV reporting provide an opportunity to collect population-based information concerning in utero exposure to ARVs. To the extent permitted by federal law and regulations, data from these confidential registries can be compared with information from birth defect and cancer registries to identify potential adverse outcomes.
References
1. Culnane M, Fowler M, Lee SS, et al. Lack of long-term effects of in utero exposure to zidovudine among uninfected children born to HIV-infected women. Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 219/076 Teams. JAMA. 1999 Jan 13;281(2):151-157.
2. Hanson IC, Antonelli TA, Sperling RS, et al. Lack of tumors in infants with perinatal HIV-1 exposure and fetal/neonatal exposure to zidovudine. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1999 Apr 15;20(5):463-467.
3. Brogly S, Williams P, Seage GR, 3rd, Van Dyke R. In utero nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor exposure and cancer in HIV-uninfected children: an update from the pediatric AIDS clinical trials group 219 and 219C cohorts. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2006 Apr 1;41(4):535-536.
4. Blanche S, Tardieu M, Rustin P, et al. Persistent mitochondrial dysfunction and perinatal exposure to antiretroviral nucleoside analogues. Lancet. 1999 Sep 25;354(9184):1084-1089.
5. Barret B, Tardieu M, Rustin P, et al. Persistent mitochondrial dysfunction in HIV-1-exposed but uninfected infants: clinical screening in a large prospective cohort. AIDS. 2003 Aug 15;17(12):1769-1785.
6. Spector SA, Saitoh A. Mitochondrial dysfunction: prevention of HIV-1 mother-to-infant transmission outweighs fear. AIDS. 2006 Aug 22;20(13):1777-1778.