Antiretroviral Drugs and Mother-to-child HIV-1 Transmission

Abstract

Abstract

HIV/AIDS has been globally regarded as one of the most outstanding unabated infectious diseases, despite more than 14 antiretroviral drugs are now available with many effective recommended combination regimens. At the end of 2001, there were an estimated 3 million children living with HIV-1 and UNAIDS reported 580,000 deaths of HIV-infected children. Prevention should be the better ways to limit the incidence of this infection. Apart from ongoing trials of HIV-prophylactic vaccines, interventions to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission have demonstrated good results, and are ready for actions. One of these is antiretroviral drug that has shown promising results. This article aims to review and update information about antiretroviral drugs used to prevent vertical transmission of HIV-1 with a variety of different point of views to approach care of HIV-1 infected pregnant women. The guidelines of the national antiretroviral regimen for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission are also incorporated. Now proven effective antiretroviral drugs, especially zidovudine (AZT) can decrease the vertical transmission of HIV-1, but many issues regarding the safety of antiretroviral drugs, drug resistance, breast milk feeding, nutritional supplements and immuno-modulators remain unclear and needed further investigations.

Keywords : antiretroviral drugs, mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission, vertical transmission of HIV