Research/News - 2013
Perinatal HIV Elimination in High Resource Settings
Sep 12, 2013
While much of the focus on elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been in low resource settings, there is still work to be done in high resource settings. As women are living longer with the help of ART, more HIV-positive women are having children. Providers... Read More
Transfer of ARVs In Utero versus Via Breastfeeding
Aug 31, 2013
Researchers measured levels of ARVs, including lopinavir, ritonavir, and efavirenz, in infants via samples of hair, plasma, and cord blood as well as mother's breastmilk to determine methods of transfer to infants. Levels were measured at various times postpartum. ... Read More
Safe Conception for Serodifferent Couples
Aug 31, 2013
Providers from the National Perinatal HIV Hotline and Clinicians' Network penned a letter to the editor of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome regarding their experiences consulting on reproduction for couples where one person is HIV-positive and one person... Read More
FDA Approves Antibody/Antigen Test
Aug 08, 2013
The FDA announced on August 8th that they had approved the first rapid HIV test to simultaneously detect antibodies for HIV-1 and HIV-2 as well as the HIV-1 p24 antigen. This will allow for additional HIV detection in community settings. The Alere Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab... Read More
Reducing HIV Viral Load in Late Term Pregnant Women
Jul 31, 2013
This article is a case review of three women in the United Kingdom who needed a reduction of their HIV viral load late in pregnancy to ensure a healthy delivery. Strategies and considerations are discussed in all three cases. Ultimately, all infants were determined HIV... Read More
Ethics and Implications of Opt-Out HIV Screening for Pregnant Women
Jun 30, 2013
This article is a review of case studies around the use of opt-out HIV screeening for pregnant women. Authors explored the ethical considerations of this type of screening as compared to opt-in HIV screening, and its potential effect of prevention of mother-to-child... Read More
Risk of Amniocentesis in Pregnant, HIV-Positive Women
Jun 30, 2013
Researchers looked at the use of amniocentesis in a case review of women with perinatal transmission who recevied an amnio in the second trimester recommend. Based on their review, they determined that amnio should only be performed when the woman is on HARRT and ideally... Read More
Exposure to ARVs and Infant Development
Jun 30, 2013
Exposure to antiretroviral medicines during the perinatal period continues to raise questions as to the long-term effects on those exposed infants. HIV-negative but exposed infants ages 9-15 months were assessed for cognitive development, including language and motor... Read More
Serodiscordant Couples and Safe Insemenation Procedures
May 31, 2013
This study evaluated the effectiveness of semen washing for interuterine insemination in serodiscordant couples where the man is HIV-positive. Researchers confirmed that no HIV infection occurred as a result of this method of IUI and thus consider this a safe option for... Read More
Use of Fourth-Generation Rapid HIV Tests for Diagnosis in Children
May 31, 2013
Fourth-generation HIV rapid tests have been shown not to be effective in diagnosing HIV in infants with a p24 antigen specificity of <2%. Although sample sizes were small, researchers do not feel they can recommend the use of the 4th generation rapid tests for diagnosis... Read More