Antiretroviral Therapy in Pregnant Women with HIV: Safe and Effective

Dolutegravir in combination with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) has been recommended by the WHO since 2018 as first-line antiretroviral treatment for adults living with HIV. That same year, 1.3 million pregnant women received antiretroviral treatment. Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) is as effective as TDF (and possibly less toxic); thus, TAF may be another first-line option. To elucidate the safety and efficacy of three different antiretroviral regimens initiated during pregnancy, investigators conducted a phase 3, randomized, controlled trial comparing dolutegravir combined with either TAF/FTC or TDF/FTC and efavirenz with TDF/FTC started at 14 to 28 weeks' gestation. Of 810 pregnant women in nine countrie…