Clinicians should be familiar with sex-specific considerations when managing antiretroviral (ARV) treatment among women. Pregnancy is a critical influence on when to start treatment and what ARVs should be included in a regimen. Sex, pregnancy and hormonal contraceptive therapies can each influence ARV pharmacokinetic profiles. Women may be prone to have higher serum levels with selected ARV treatments, which may improve potency but also increase the risk for toxicities. Several studies have demonstrated that women do have higher frequencies of selected ARV-associated adverse events when compared with men. Although HIV treatment guidelines for nonpregnant women do not differ from men, clinicians should be aware of the high potential for certain ARV-related toxicities and follow suggestions in order to decrease the risk of side effects.The most recent statistics from the US CDC as of March 2008 show that the cumulative total number of women reported to have AIDS in the USA was 189,566 and women accounted for 26% of persons infected with HIV [101]. It has become increasingly clear that women have unique antiretroviral (ARV) management issues and clinicians should be familiar with sex-specific considerations. Women may metabolize selected drugs differently from men, which can result in different ARV pharmacokinetic profiles and the potential for adverse side effects. In addition, women of child-bearing potential have reproductive concerns that include optimal contraception and potential fetal toxicity for selected ARV therapies.
When to start ARVsPregnancy status is the first consideration when determining whether to or when to initiate ARVs, since this will affect timing [102,103]. All pregnant women need to initiate ARVs regardless of their CD4 cell count or HIV RNA level. Those who have ARVs initiated only to prevent maternal-fetal transmission can afford to delay starting ARVs until after the first trimester, but others who require medication for their own health can start immediately, regardless of their gestational stage.The decision is more complicated for nonpregnant women. Over the years, the pendulum has swung both ways with regard to early versus late ARV initiation, with CD4 cell count criteria ranging from 500 down to 200 cells/mm 3 for asymptomatic HIV-infected nonpregnant individuals. Experts have carefully weighed possible survival benefits against long-term toxicities demonstrated in cohort studies and randomized clinical trials. The most recent version of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines from January 2008 recommend initiating ARVs when the CD4 cell count drops to less than 350 cells/mm 3 for both men and nonpregnant women. The consideration for initiating ARVs for nonpregnant individuals with higher CD4 cell counts should take into account the specific patient scenario and comorbidities. Women with HIV-associated nephropathy or those who require treatment for a hepatitis B infection should have HIV treatment initiated, regardless of their CD4 cell count [102].In most c...