Author(s)

Shauna F. Williams, Bart Holland, Ulas Bozdogan, Jesus R. Alvarez, Joseph J. Apuzzio, Arlene D. Bardeguez

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Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA.

Objective: To compare preterm delivery (PTD) rates in HIV-infected patients on a protease inhibitor (PI)-based and a PI-sparing regimen. Study Design: This is a retrospective review of records of HIV-infected pregnant women between 2000 and 2007 at University Hospital, Newark, NJ. Patients were grouped according to PI exposure during pregnancy. Rates of preterm birth were compared, and the analysis was performed irrespectively of the etiology or indication of the preterm birth. Multivariate analysis including substance use, PI use, initial CD4 count, and history of PTD was performed. Results: There were 129 pregnant women in the PI group and 59 in the PI-sparing group. The PTD rate did not differ between the PI group and PI-sparing group (27.9% vs 25.4%, P = 0.72). 28.6% of those who delivered preterm had a previous PTD compared to 8.4% of those who delivered at term (P = 0.0019). Patients who delivered preterm had a higher rate of substance use (37.3% vs 19.7%, P = 0.0128). In the multivariate analysis, only history of PTD was significant (P = 0.018). Conclusion: Contrary to other studies, PIs were not associated with PTD. Other known risk factors of PTD, specifically past PTD and substance use, should be considered and targeted for risk reduction during pregnancy.

HIV; Pregnancy; Preterm Birth; Protease Inhibitors

S. Williams, B. Holland, U. Bozdogan, J. Alvarez, J. Apuzzio and A. Bardeguez, "Do Protease Inhibitors Increase Preterm Births in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients?," Advances in Infectious Diseases, Vol. 3 No. 3, 2013, pp. 172-176. doi: 10.4236/aid.2013.33025.