Abstract
The findings of a recent human immunodeficiency (HIV-1) prevention trial in the USA demonstrated that administration of an antiretriviral drug, zidovudine, to mothers during the prenatal and intrapartum periods, and to their neonates for 6 weeks, resulted in a two-thirds reduction in risk of perinatal transmission from 25.5% to 8.3%. These results were rapidly disseminated both in the USA and internationally. Since the release of these clinical trial results in the spring of 1994, several observational studies have documented a sharp increase in maternal and neonatal zidovudine use, as well as a significant decrease in perinatal HIV-1 transmission, with rates of about 8% being observed in non-clinical trial settings. Internationally, the results have led to the development of a variety of perinatal prevention trials that build on the success of the U.S. perinatal prevention trial but use modified strategies that can feasibly be carried out in developing countries.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 97-103 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, Supplement |
Volume | 86 |
Issue number | 421 |
State | Published - Aug 2 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health