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Zidovudine for Prevention of Perinatal HIV Transmission
J. A. Gogtay (Doctor)
V. M. Manek (Doctor)
Medical and Research Division, Cipla Ltd, Mumbai, India
Key Points
- Zidovudine, given antepartum and intrapartum to the mother and to the newborn for 6 weeks (Protocol 076 regimen), reduces the risk of maternal-infant transmission of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) by approximately two-thirds.
- Use of short-course zidovudine could help reduce perinatal HIV-1 transmission in resource-poor developing countries, where the more complex and costly Protocol 076 regimen cannot be implemented.
- Additional means to decrease perinatal HIV transmission include avoidance of breast-feeding, avoidance of premature rupture of membranes during delivery, and birth by caesarean section.
- Combined use of zidovudine prophylaxis and elective caesarean section essentially eliminates the risk of vertical HIV transmission.
Editor's Comment
This article reviews the effectiveness of strategies available to prevent mother-child HIV transmission; particularly drug therapy with zidovudine. Preventing perinatal HIV infection is the key to reducing the global burden of paediatric acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
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