Nikavir in chemoprevention regimens for vertical HIV infection transmission

In 2007-2008, the Perm Territorial Center for Prevention and Control of AIDS and Communicable Diseases investigated the efficacy of the Russian antiretrovirus drug Nikavir used in various chemoprevention (CP) regimens for perinatal HIV infection, by analyzing epidemiological findings and the results of the clinical and laboratory studies of patients. The study covered 38 HIV-infected pregnant women aged 18-32 years and their 38 born babies. From 23-32 weeks gestation to labor, the women started receiving CP using Nikavir in combination with epivir (Group 1; n = 20) and highly active antiretrovirus therapy, including Nikavir with epivir and viramune or kaletra (Group 2; n = 18). During the investigation, the viral burden (VB) and the count of CD4+ lymphocytes were determined and physical examinations were conducted to reveal therapy-induced adverse reactions. Polymerase chain reaction used to test HIV DNA in babies at 1.5 and months of life for early diagnosis of HIV infection.
Both CP regimens showed a high efficiency, as suggested by no perinatal infection in the born babies, by a reduction of VB in the HIV-infected women to the undetectable level, and by an increase in the count of CD4+ lymphocytes. No adverse reactions due to the intake of the drugs were recorded.

HIV infection, perinatal prevention, Nikavir