Birth Defects and ART

In a large prospective cohort study, ART during pregnancy was not associated with an overall increase in birth defects.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used during pregnancy to maintain the mother’s health and to prevent HIV transmission to the fetus. Is such use associated with an increased risk for birth defects? To find out, investigators from the Women and Infants Transmission Study, a multicenter prospective observational cohort study enrolling HIV-infected women during pregnancy, analyzed the frequency and types of congenital defects among 2527 live-born infants.

Rates of birth defects were similar whether the mothers had first-trimester ART exposure (i.e., during organogenesis), only second- or third-trimester exposure, or no exposure during the pregnancy (3.19, 3.54, and 4.05 per 100 live births, respectively). Analysis by organ system revealed an inc…

Reviewing Author

Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD

Birth Defects and ART

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Reviewing Author