Journal Article

Decreased emergence of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations in a cohort of Ugandan women initiating option B+ for PMTCT

Bannert, Norbert, Altmann, Britta, Hauser, Andrea, Theuring, Stefanie, Braun, Vera, Busingye, Priscilla, Rempis, Eva, Harms, Gundel, Decker, Sarah, Rubaihayo, John, Meixenberger, Karolin, Schnack, Alexandra, Machnowska, Patrycja

2017

Overview

Since 2012, WHO guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV-1 in resource-limited settings recommend the initiation of lifelong antiretroviral combination therapy (cART) for all pregnant HIV-1 positive women independent of CD4 count and WHO clinical stage (Option B+). However, long-term outcomes regarding development of drug resistance are lacking until now. Therefore, we analysed the emergence of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) in women initiating Option B+ in Fort Portal, Uganda, at 12 and 18 months postpartum (ppm). 124 HIV-1 positive pregnant women were enrolled within antenatal care services in Fort Portal, Uganda. Blood samples were collected at the first visit prior starting Option B+ and postpartum at week six, month six, 12 and 18. Viral load was determined by real-time RT-PCR. An RT-PCR covering resistance associated positions in the protease and reverse transcriptase HIV-1 genomic region was performed. PCR-positive samples at 12/18 ppm and respective baseline samples were analysed by next generation sequencing regarding HIV-1 drug resistant variants including low-frequency variants. Furthermore, vertical transmission of HIV-1 was analysed. 49/124 (39.5%) women were included into the DRM analysis. Virological failure, defined as >1000 copies HIV-1 RNA/ml, was observed in three and seven women at 12 and 18 ppm, respectively. Sequences were obtained for three and six of these. In total, DRMs were detected in 3/49 (6.1%) women. Two women displayed dual-class resistance against all recommended first-line regimen drugs. Of 49 mother-infant-pairs no infant was HIV-1 positive at 12 or 18 ppm. Our findings suggest that the WHO-recommended Option B+ for PMTCT is effective in a cohort of Ugandan HIV-1 positive pregnant women with regard to the low selection rate of DRMs and vertical transmission. Therefore, these results are encouraging for other countries considering the implementation of lifelong cART for all pregnant HIV-1 positive women.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome / Adult / AIDS / Anti-HIV Agents - administration & dosage / Anti-HIV Agents - pharmacology / Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use / Antiretroviral agents / Antiretroviral drugs / Biology and Life Sciences / Blood / CD4 antigen / CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Cohort Studies / Disease transmission / Drug resistance / Drug Resistance, Viral - genetics / Drug Therapy, Combination / Drugs / Emergence / Failure analysis / Female / Gene mutation / Genetic aspects / GLP-1 receptor agonists / Guidelines / Health aspects / High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / HIV / HIV infections / HIV Infections - complications / HIV Infections - drug therapy / HIV-1 - drug effects / HIV-1 - genetics / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / Infant, Newborn / Infants / Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - prevention & control / Maternal-fetal exchange / Medicine and Health Sciences / Mutation / Polymerase chain reaction / Postpartum / Postpartum Period / Pregnancy / Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - drug therapy / Prevention / Protease / Protease inhibitors / Proteinase / Real time / Research and Analysis Methods / Ribonucleic acid / RNA / RNA-directed DNA polymerase / Therapy / Uganda / Viral Load / Womens health