HIV resistance in pregnant women in Honduras during the year 2015

Abstract

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in pregnant women has contributed to the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child. However, the development of HIV-1 resistance to antiretroviral therapy is a serious problem, which can reduce the efficacy of treatment in pregnant women, generating a risk of transmission from mother to child and also generating impact on the clinical management of pregnant women or children who become infected.

This study determined the presence of resistance in HIV-1 positive pregnant women (receiving ARV) who live in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula during the year 2015. A total of 63 participants were tested and 35 of them obtained a successful HIV-1 pol gene amplification to evaluate the presence of resistance mutations.

Quantification of viral load and CD4 count was performed on all participants. The overall prevalence of resistance was 17%. Of all the participants, 62% had detectable viral load and 16% had cell counts ≤200 cells / mm3. The prevalence of resistance, viremia and low cell counts indicated that there could be a risk of vertical transmission in this cohort.

This study provides current data on the prevalence of resistance to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1 positive pregnant Honduran women. The study reflects the need for routine and permanent tests, viral load and CD4 count, in order to support the prevention of HIV-1 transmission to the mother and child.