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Early failure detection limited the accumulation of resistance. After stavudine failure in African populations, zidovudine rather than tenofovir may be preferred in second-line ART. Strategies to prevent HIV-1 resistance are a global priority.

Clinicoimmunological monitoring without viral load testing resulted in frequent unnecessary regimen switches. Prolonged treatment failure was indicated by extensive NRTI cross-resistance. Access to virological monitoring should be expanded to prevent inappropriate switches, enable early failure detection and preserve second-line treatment options in Africa.

ObjectiveThere are limited antiretroviral options for use in the treatment of HIV infection during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety, efficacy and appropriate dosing regimen for ritonavir (RTV)-boosted atazanavir in HIV-1-infected pregnant women. MethodsIn this nonrandomized, open-label study, HIV-infected pregnant women were dosed with either 300/ 100 mg (n 5 20) or 400/100 mg (n 5 21) atazanavir/RTV once-daily (qd) in combination with zidovudine (300 mg) and lamivudine (150 mg) twice daily in the third trimester. Pharmacokinetic parameters [maximum observed plasma concentration (C max ), trough observed plasma concentration 24 hour post dose (C min ) and area under concentration-time curve in one dosing interval (AUC t )] were determined and compared with historical values (300/100 mg atazanavir/RTV) for HIV-infected nonpregnant adults (n 5 23). ResultsAt or before delivery, all mothers achieved HIV RNA o50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL and all infants were HIV DNA negative at 6 months of age. The third trimester AUC t for atazanavir/RTV 300/100 mg was 21% lower than historical data, but the C min values were comparable. The C min value for atazanavir/RTV 400/100 mg was 39% higher than the C min for atazanavir/RTV 300/100 mg in historical controls, but the AUC t values were comparable. Twice as many patients in the 400/100 mg group (62%) had an increase in total bilirubin (42.5 times the upper limit of normal) as in the 300/100 mg group (30%). Atazanavir (ATV) was well tolerated with no unanticipated adverse events. ConclusionsIn this study, use of atazanavir/RTV 300/100 mg qd produced C min comparable to historical data in nonpregnant HIV-infected adults. When used in combination with zidovudine/lamivudine, it suppressed HIV RNA in all mothers and prevented mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 infection. During pregnancy, the pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy demonstrated that a dose adjustment is not required for ATV.Keywords: atazanavir, HIV, pregnancy, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, protease inhibitor IntroductionTreatment guidelines for HIV-1 infection in pregnant women recommend highly active antiretroviral (ARV) therapy (HAART) with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (zidovudine and lamivudine) plus the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor nevirapine [1][2][3]. Some guidelines also recommend the ritonavir (RTV)-boosted protease inhibitor lopinavir as an optional third agent [1], although others recommend several boosted protease inhibitors as optional agents [2]. All other ARV DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1293.2011.00927.x HIV Medicine (2011 r 2011 British HIV Association 570 drugs are alternative agents or for use in special circumstances [1,4]. However, there are questions and concerns regarding the two most frequently recommended third agents: treatment initiation with nevirapine is associated with an increased risk of symptomatic liver toxicity, often accompanied by a rash, which is potentially fatal [1,5]. Concerns with RTV-boosted lopinavir inclu...