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Introduction: The extent to which individuals living with HIV experience residential and healthcare mobility during pregnancy in the UK is unknown. We aimed to determine a minimum estimate of residential and healthcare mobility during pregnancy in people living with HIV in the UK in 2009–2019 to explore patterns of and factors associated with mobility and to assess whether mobility was associated with specific HIV outcomes. Methods: We analyzed data from the Integrated Screening Outcomes Surveillance Service to assess pregnancies with HIV in the UK and included livebirths and stillbirths with estimated delivery in 2009–2019. Residential mobility was defined as changing residential postcode between notification and delivery, and healthcare mobility was defined as changing NHS Trust or Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in that same timeframe. We used logistic regression to determine factors associated with residential and healthcare mobility and with detectable delivery viral load. Results: Among 10 305 pregnancies, 19.6% experienced residential mobility, 8.1% changed NHS Trust, and 4.5% changed SHA during pregnancy. Mobility was more likely to be experienced by younger women, migrants, and those with new antenatal diagnosis; residential but not healthcare mobility declined over time. In a fully adjusted model, mobility was not associated with having a detectable viral load at delivery. Higher proportions of infants were lost to follow‐up after mobile pregnancies than after non‐mobile pregnancies. Conclusions: This analysis provides new knowledge on mobility during pregnancy in the context of HIV, but further research is needed to understand its broader impacts and its utility as a marker to help identify families requiring additional follow‐up and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is growing interest in health, developmental and survival outcomes of children who are born HIV‐free to women living with HIV (children born HIV‐free). To date, the research agenda has been largely determined by researchers, funders and policy makers, with limited involvement of parents, who are key stakeholders. Researchers at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health in partnership with community‐based organisation 4M Network of Mentor Mothers conducted two workshops with parents in March 2022 to establish research priorities for children born HIV‐free, and key considerations for methodological approaches both to research and engagement with the affected communities. Discussion: When exploring research on children born HIV‐free, we consider the following: what aspects of current research are aligned with women and parents' priorities, what is missing and what approaches would be preferred. A holistic approach to research on children born HIV‐free should be prioritised, focussing on a breadth of outcomes and how they intersect. Secondary use of existing data sources should be maximised to facilitate this, with a view of monitoring the long‐term effects of fetal antiretroviral drug exposure alongside other key health and developmental outcomes. Involving and engaging with parents, and children where possible, must be at the heart of research design to maximise relevance and impact of findings for the affected communities. Potential barriers to engaging with individuals who were children born HIV‐free include parental disclosure and individuals not identifying as a child born HIV‐free to a mother living with HIV. Stigma‐free language must be incorporated into the vocabulary of researchers and other stakeholders, avoiding reference to exposure; we propose the term "children born HIV‐free." Conclusions: Mothers and parents living with HIV should be involved in research about their children born HIV‐free and are key in identifying research priorities so that findings may translate into an impact on their children's health and wellbeing. Meaningful involvement of women living with HIV through trusted community partners is an effective mechanism by which to elicit views on research about their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevalence of gestational diabetes (GD) is increasing globally. While universal risk factors for GD are reasonably well understood, questions remain regarding risks for women living with HIV (WLWH). We aimed to describe GD prevalence, evaluate associated maternal risk factors and assess specific birth outcomes in WLWH in the UK and Ireland. Methods: We analysed all pregnancies (≥24 weeks' gestation) in women diagnosed with HIV before delivery, reported to the UK‐based Integrated Screening Outcomes Surveillance Service between 2010 and 2020. Every report of GD was considered as a case. A multivariable logistic regression model, adjusted for women with more than one pregnancy fitted with generalized estimating equations (GEE) assessed the effect of independent risk factors. Results: There were 10,553 pregnancies in 7916 women, of which 460 (4.72%) pregnancies had reported GD. Overall, the median maternal age was 33 years (Q1:29–Q3:37), and 73% of pregnancies were in Black African women. WLWH with GD (WLWH‐GD) were older (61% vs. 41% aged ≥35 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to be on treatment at conception (74% vs. 64%, p < 0.001) than women without GD. WLWH‐GD were more likely to have a stillbirth (odds ratio [OR]: 5.38, 95% CI: 2.14–13.5), preterm delivery (OR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.95–3.32) and fetal macrosomia (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04–1.24). Independent risk factors for GD included estimated year of delivery (GEE‐adjusted odds ratio [GEE‐aOR]: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.10–1.18), advanced maternal age (≥35 years) (GEE‐aOR: 2.87, 95% CI: 1.54–5.34), Asian (GEE‐aOR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.40–4.63) and Black African (GEE‐aOR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.13–2.12) ethnicity. Timing and type of antiretroviral therapy showed no evidence of a relationship with GD in multivariable analyses; however, women with a CD4 count ≤350 cells/μl were 27% less likely to have GD than women with CD4 counts >350 cells/μl (GEE‐aOR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.50–0.96). Conclusions: GD prevalence increased over time among WLWH but was not significantly different from the general population. Maternal age, ethnicity and CD4 count were risk factors based on available data. Stillbirth and preterm delivery were more common in WLWH‐GD than other WLWH over the study period. Further studies are required to build upon these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests children HIV‐exposed and uninfected (CHEU) experience poor growth. We analysed child anthropometrics and explored factors associated with stunting among Malawian CHEU. Mothers with HIV and their infants HIV‐exposed were enroled in a nationally representative prospective cohort within the National Evaluation of Malawi's Prevention of Mother‐to‐Child HIV Transmission Programme after Option B+ implementation (2014–2018). Anthropometry was measured at enrolment (age 1–6 months), visit 1 (approximately 12 months), and visit 2 (approximately 24 months). Weight‐for‐age (WAZ) and length‐for‐age (LAZ) z‐scores were calculated using World Health Organization Growth Standards; underweight and stunting were defined as WAZ and LAZ more than 2 standard deviations below the reference median. Multivariable logistic regression restricted to CHEU aged 24 months (±3 months) was used to identify factors associated with stunting. Among 1211 CHEU, 562/1211 attended visit 2, of which 529 were aged 24 months (±3 months) and were included. At age 24 months, 40.4% of CHEU were stunted and/or underweight, respectively. In multi‐variable analysis, adjusting for child age and sex, the odds of stunting were higher among CHEU with infectious disease diagnosis compared to those with no diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio = 3.35 [95% confidence interval: 1.82–6.17]), which was modified by co‐trimoxazole prophylaxis (p = 0.028). Infant low birthweight was associated with an increased odds of stunting; optimal feeding and maternal employment were correlated with reduced odds. This is one of the first studies examining CHEU growth since Option B+. Interventions to improve linear growth among CHEU should address their multi‐faceted health risks, alongside maternal ART prescription, and follow‐up of mother‐child pairs. Key messages: Understanding the health risks of children HIV‐exposed and uninfected (CHEU) and the impact on their growth is of paramount importance for optimizing their health.This is one of the first studies examining correlates of CHEU growth since the implementation of Option B+ and uses a random subsample of a nationally representative cohort of women with HIV and CHEU in Malawi.Factors associated with stunting included infant low birthweight, optimal feeding, co‐trimoxazole prophylaxis, and maternal employment.Interventions targeting modifiable risk factors, alongside maternal antiretroviral therapy, and improved nutritional follow‐up of CHEU will contribute to improving CHEU growth in Malawi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As new antiretrovirals (ARVs), including long‐acting ARVs for treatment and prevention, are approved and introduced, surveillance during pregnancy must become the safety net for evaluating birth outcomes, especially those that are rare and require large numbers of observations. Historically, drug pharmacovigilance in pregnancy has been limited and fragmented between different data sources, resulting in inadequate data to assess risk. The International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network and World Health Organization convened a Workshop which reviewed strengths and weaknesses of existing programs and discussed an improved framework to integrate existing safety data sources and promote harmonization and digitalization. Discussion: This paper highlights that although robust sources of safety data and surveillance programs exist, key challenges remain, including unknown denominators, reporting bias, under‐reporting (e.g. in voluntary registries), few data sources from resource‐limited settings (most are in North America and Europe), incomplete or inaccurate data (e.g. within routine medical records). However, recent experiences (e.g. with safety signals) and current innovations (e.g. electronic record use in resource‐limited settings and defining adverse outcomes) provide momentum and building blocks for a new framework for active surveillance of ARV safety in pregnancy. A public health approach should be taken using data from existing sources, including registries of pregnancy ARV exposure and birth defects; observational surveillance and cohort studies; clinical trials; and real‐world databases. Key facilitators are harmonization and standardization of outcomes, sharing of materials and tools, and data linkages between programs. Other key facilitators include the development of guidance to estimate sample size and duration of surveillance, ensuring strategic geographic diversity, bringing partners together to share information and engaging the community of women living with HIV. Conclusions: Looking ahead, critical steps to safely introduce new ARVs include (1) adopting harmonized standards for measuring adverse maternal, birth and infant outcomes; (2) establishing surveillance centres of excellence in areas with high HIV prevalence with harmonized data collection and optimized electronic health records linking maternal/infant data; and (3) creating targets and evaluation goals for reporting progress on implementation and quality of surveillance in pregnancy. The platform will be leveraged to ensure that appropriate contributions and strategic actions by relevant stakeholders are implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: HIV treatment recommendations have evolved over time, reflecting both growing availability of new antiretrovirals and accumulating evidence on their safe and effective use. We analysed patterns of antiretroviral use among diagnosed pregnant women living with HIV delivering in the UK and Ireland between 2008 and 2018 using national surveillance data. Methods: All singleton pregnancies with known outcomes and known timing of antiretroviral initiation reported to the National Surveillance of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood were included. Every individual instance of specific antiretroviral use was the unit of analysis in generating a snapshot of antiretroviral use overall and over calendar time. The final analysis was restricted to the 14 most frequently prescribed antiretrovirals. Results: There were 12 099 singleton pregnancies reported during 2008–2018 and a total of 38 214 individual uses of the 14 most commonly prescribed antiretrovirals, the majority of which were started before conception (70.9%). In 2008, 37.7% (482/1279) of pregnancies were conceived under treatment, reaching 80.9% (509/629) by 2018. Patterns of antiretroviral use have changed over time, particularly for third agents. Between 2008 and 2018 the most frequently used protease inhibitor shifted from lopinavir to darunavir, whereas use of integrase inhibitors increased steadily over time. Conclusions: These national surveillance data enable investigation of the 'real‐world' use of antiretrovirals in pregnancy on a population level. Findings demonstrate mixed responsiveness of antiretroviral prescription to changes in pregnancy guideline recommendations and may also reflect changes in commissioning and in the characteristics of pregnant women living with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread use of antiretroviral drugs for pregnant/breastfeeding females with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has led to declining vertical transmission. Despite being HIV-uninfected, the increasing number of children who are HIV-exposed and uninfected (CHEU) often present with developmental alterations. We review seminal and recent evidence on the neurological development of CHEU and associations with early life HIV/antiretroviral exposure. Our conceptual model highlights the numerous exposures and universal risk factors for CHEU developmental disorders. Early studies suggest a significant association between HIV exposure and neurological abnormalities, varying according to the burden of HIV-specific exposures and other risk factors. More recent observations from the modern era are inconsistent, although some studies suggest specific antiretrovirals may adversely affect neurological development of CHEU. As the CHEU population continues to grow, alongside simultaneous increases in types and combinations of antiretrovirals used in pregnancy, long-term monitoring of CHEU is necessary for understanding the effects of HIV/antiretroviral exposure on CHEU developmental outcomes. What this paper adds Evidence on the neurological development of children who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed and uninfected (CHEU) is synthesized. Comparisons are made to children who are HIV-unexposed, across treatment eras and settings, and by antiretroviral drug regimens and drug classes. CHEU exposures are complex and include HIV-specific and universal risk factors which may affect development during the early years of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burden of paediatric Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection across Europe is unknown, as are current policies regarding monitoring and treatment. This collaborative study aimed to collect aggregate data to characterise the population of ≤18‐year‐olds with HCV infection in specialist follow up in a 12‐month period (2016) across the PENTAHep European consortium, and investigate current policies around monitoring and treatment. A cross‐sectional, web‐based survey was distributed in April 2017 to 50 paediatricians in 19 European countries, covering patients' profile, and monitoring and treatment practices. Responses were received from 38/50 clinicians collectively caring for 663 children with chronic HCV infection of whom three‐quarters were aged ≥6 years and 90% vertically infected. HCV genotype 1 was the most common (n 380; 57.3%), followed by genotype 3, 4 and 2. Seventeen children (3%) with chronic HCV infection were diagnosed with cirrhosis, and six were reported to have received liver transplantation for HCV‐related liver disease. The majority (n 425; 64.1%) of the European children with HCV infection remained treatment‐naive in 2016. Age affected clinicians' attitudes towards treatment; 94% reported being willing to use direct‐acting antivirals, if available, in adolescents (aged ≥11 years), 78% in children aged 6‐10 and 42% in those 3‐5 years of age (Pearson correlation coefficient −0.98; P 0.0001). This survey provides the largest characterisation of the population of children in clinical follow‐up for chronic HCV infection in Europe, alongside important contextual information on their management and treatment. Discussion is needed around strategies and criteria for use of direct‐acting antivirals in these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Russia has one of the highest prevalences of paediatric chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC). Our aim was to provide a detailed characterization of children and adolescents with CHC including treatment outcomes. Thus, an observational study of children with CHC aged <18 years was conducted in three hepatology centres from November 2014 to May 2017. Of 301 children (52% male), 196 (65%) acquired HCV vertically, 70 (23%) had a history of blood transfusion or invasive procedures, 1 injecting drug use and 34 (11%) had no known risk factors. Median age at HCV diagnosis was 3.1 [interquartile range, IQR 1.1, 8.2] and 10.8 [7.4, 14.7] at last follow‐up. The most common genotype was 1b (51%), followed by 3 (37%). Over a quarter of patients (84, 28%) had raised liver transaminases. Of 92 with liver biopsy, 38 (41%) had bridging fibrosis (median age 10.4 [7.1, 14.1]). Of 223 evaluated by transient elastography, 67 (30%) had liver stiffness ≥5.0 kPa. For each year, increase in age mean stiffness increased by 0.09 kPa (95% CI 0.05, 0.13, P < 0.001). There was significant correlation between liver stiffness and biopsy results (Tau‐b = 0.29, P = 0.042). Of 205 treated with IFN‐based regimens, 100 (49%) had SVR24. Most children (191, 93%) experienced adverse reactions, leading to treatment discontinuation in 6 (3%). In conclusion, a third of children acquired HCV via nonvertical routes and a substantial proportion of those with liver biopsy had advanced liver disease. Only half of children achieved SVR24 with IFN‐based regimens highlighting the need for more effective and better‐tolerated treatments with direct‐acting antivirals. Further studies are warranted in Russia on causes and prevention of nonvertical transmission of HCV in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ABSTRACT Purpose Fosamprenavir, combined with low-dose ritonavir (FPV/r), is indicated for treatment of HIV-infected children aged ≥6 years in Europe. Our purpose was to assess the safety of licensed use of FPV/r in HIV-infected children reported to six cohorts in the European Pregnancy and Paediatric HIV Cohort Collaboration. Methods Retrospective analysis of individual patient data for all children aged 6-18 years taking the licensed dose of FPV up to 31/12/10. Adverse events (clinical events and absolute neutrophil counts, total cholesterol and triglycerides, and alanine transaminase) were summarised and DAIDS gradings characterised severity. Results Ninety-two HIV-infected children aged 6-18 years took the licensed dose, comprising 3% of the total number of children in follow-up in participating cohorts. Median age at antiretroviral therapy initiation was 6 years (interquartile range 1-11 years), and median age at start of FPV/r was 15 years (12-17 years). Estimated median time on an FPV-containing regimen was 52 months, with a total of 266.9 patient years of exposure overall. Half (54%) were on an FPV-containing regimen at last follow-up. Rates of grade 3/4 events were generally low for all biochemical toxicity markers, and no serious adverse events considered to be causally related to FPV/r were reported. Conclusions Results suggest that long-term licensed dose FPV-containing regimens appear to be generally well tolerated with few reported toxicities in HIV-infected children in Europe, although relatively infrequently prescribed. No serious events were reported. © 2013 The Authors. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine how the subsequent childbearing of HIV-infected mothers enrolled in the European Collaborative Study (ECS) has changed over time and identify factors predictive of further childbearing. Prospective cohort study. Centres in nine European countries included in the ECS, enrolled between end 1986 and November 2003. HIV-infected women (3911): 3693 with only one and 218 with subsequent live births. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Kaplan–Meier (KM) analyses to estimate cumulative proportions of women having a subsequent live birth. Subsequent live birth. In multivariable analysis adjusting for time period, ethnicity, maternal age and parity, black women were more likely [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.45; 95% CI, 1.75–3.43], and women>30 years less likely (AOR 0.54, 0.37–0.80), to have a subsequent live birth. Time to subsequent live birth significantly shortened over time, with an estimated 2% of women having a subsequent live birth within 24 months of enrolment pre-1989 versus 14% in 2000–2003 ( P< 0.001). Estimated time to subsequent live birth was shorter for black than for white women ( P< 0.001). The likelihood of subsequent live births substantially increased after 1995 and birth intervals were shorter in women on HAART and among black women. Numbers are currently too small to address the issue of advantages and disadvantages in the management of subsequent deliveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rowing is a sport that requires athletes to perform the action of pulling and rotating an oar by hand, applying forces of considerable magnitude. Herein, inspired by the notion that auxetic materials and metamaterials behave differently compared to their conventional counterparts, it is examined how a handle prototype, specifically designed to incorporate the classic re‐entrant motif, behaves and how end‐users perceive it. Physical experiments conducted on such prototype, which measured the contact pressures, suggest that on average, higher pressures are measured when pulling with this reentrant grip compared to its non reentrant counterpart, indicating that this re‐entrant prototype should feel firmer. More importantly, respondents of a survey are asked to give their feedback, and different views on which handle they would prefer to use are provided. The ones who preferred the prototype with the reentrant features report that they preferred it because it felt firmer and allowed for a better grip. This suggests that there is potential for further investigation into whether handles, oar handles in particular, made from auxetic components, re‐entrant cells, or other motifs which are well known for their negative Poisson's ratio characteristics, could provide a better and more secure grip and be used in sports applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The UNAIDS 90‐90‐90 targets for the cascade of care are widely used to monitor the success of HIV care programmes but there are few studies in children. We assessed the cascade for children and adolescents living with HIV in the national Collaborative HIV Paediatric Study (CHIPS) in the UK and Ireland. Methods: Utilizing longitudinal data from CHIPS we compared the cascade of care for 2010, 2013 and 2016. Among children diagnosed with HIV and not known to be lost to follow‐up at the start of each calendar year, we summarized the proportion in active paediatric care during that year (defined as having ≥1 clinic visit, CD4 or viral load measurement, or change to antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen), and of these, the proportion on ART at last visit in that year. Among those on ART, the proportion with viral suppression (<200 copies/mL) and good immune status (WHO immunological stage none‐/mild‐for‐age) at last visit in the year were summarized. Among those in care in 2016, outcomes were compared by current age, place of birth (born abroad vs. UK/Ireland) and sex. Results: Of children in paediatric HIV care at the start of 2010, 2013 and 2016 (n = 1249, 1157, 905 respectively), the proportion in active care during that calendar year was high throughout at 97 to 99%. Of those in active care, the proportion on ART increased from 79% to 85% and 92% respectively (p < 0.001). Among those on ART, the proportion with viral suppression and good immune status was stable at 83% to 86% and 85% to 88%, respectively, across the years. Among children in care in 2016, those aged ≥15 years were less likely to be virally suppressed (79% vs. 91%, p < 0.001) or to have good immune status (78% vs. 94%, p < 0.001) compared to younger children; there were no differences by place of birth or sex. Conclusions: Children and adolescents in the UK and Ireland national cohort had high retention in care. The proportion on ART increased significantly over time although there was no change in viral suppression or good immune status. Poorer outcomes among adolescents highlight the need for targeted support for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The unexpected identification of a neural tube defect (NTD) safety signal with preconception dolutegravir (DTG) exposure in the Botswana Tsepamo birth outcomes study brought into sharp focus the need for reliable data on use of new antiretrovirals in pregnancy, improved pharmacovigilance systems to evaluate safety of new drugs being introduced into populations including women of reproductive potential, and balanced risk‐benefit messaging when a safety signal is identified. Discussion: The Tsepamo study NTD safety signal and accompanying regulatory responses led to uncertainty about the most appropriate approach to DTG use among women of reproductive potential, affecting global DTG roll‐out plans, and limiting DTG use in adolescent girls and women. It also revealed a tension between a public health approach to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and individual choice, and highlighted difficulties interpreting and messaging an unexpected safety signal with uncertainty about risk. This difficulty was compounded by the lack of high‐quality data on pregnancy outcomes from women receiving ART outside the Tsepamo surveillance sites and countries other than Botswana, resulting in a prolonged period of uncertainty while data on additional exposures are evaluated to refute or confirm the initial safety signal. We discuss principles for evaluating and introducing new drugs in the general population that would ensure collection of appropriate data to inform drug safety in adolescent girls and women of reproductive potential and minimize confusion about drug use in this population when a safety signal is identified. Conclusions: The response to a signal suggesting a possible safety risk for a drug used in pregnancy or among women who may become pregnant needs to be rapid and comprehensive. It requires the existence of appropriately designed surveillance systems with broad population coverage; data analyses that examine risk‐benefit trade‐offs in a variety of contexts; guidance to transform this risk‐benefit balance into effective and agreed‐upon policy; involvement of the affected community and other key stakeholders; and a communication plan for all levels of knowledge and complexity. Implementation of this proposed framework for responding to safety signals is needed to ensure that any drug used in pregnancy can be rapidly and appropriately evaluated should a serious safety alert arise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction In the United Kingdom and Ireland more than 40% of individuals living with perinatally acquired HIV are now aged >16. Globally, increasing numbers of women with perinatally acquired HIV are becoming pregnant, but data on fertility and pregnancy outcomes is scarce. We present pregnancy outcome data for this emerging cohort. Methods Pregnancies in diagnosed HIV-infected women in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and children diagnosed with HIV, are reported to the National Study of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood. We analyzed data on pregnancies in women diagnosed aged ≤13 with perinatally acquired HIV, reported by June 2014. Results A total of 759 females born before 2001, diagnosed with perinatally acquired HIV aged ≤13 years, and in care in the UK and Ireland have been reported. Forty-four of these (6%) have had at least one pregnancy reported, with nineteen 2nd and four 3rd/4th pregnancies. Women's year of birth ranged from 1985 to 1996; 60% of women were UK/Irish-born and 39% African-born. Twenty one percent were diagnosed at <2 years, 39% at 2-7 and 41% at 8-13 years. Nine pregnancies were conceived in 2005-07, 22 in 2008-10 and 36 in 2011-13. Median age at conception of first pregnancy was 19 years. CD4 count was >500 cells/µL in 36% of first pregnancies, 350-499 in 15% and <350 in 49%. Women were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at conception in 71% of pregnancies. There were 51 singleton live births, 2 miscarriages, 9 terminations and 5 continuing to term. In 17 live births to women not on ART at conception, median gestational age at start of ART was 17 weeks (range 3-29). HIV viral load was <50 copies/mL near delivery in 64% of live births, 51-1000 in 31% and >1000 in 5%. Forty four percent of live births were delivered by elective caesarean section (CS), 27% by emergency CS, 27% by planned vaginal delivery and with one unplanned vaginal delivery. Of 29 live births with viral load <50, 31% were delivered by elective CS, 17% by emergency CS and 52% by vaginal delivery. Fifteen percent of infants were delivered at 32-36 weeks gestation, and 2% at 30 weeks; 16% weighed 1.5-2.5 kg and 16% weighed <1.5 kg. Among 38 of the 51 infants where infection status is already reported, one is perinatally infected. Conclusions Currently at least 6% of perinatally infected women in care in the UK and Ireland have experienced one or more pregnancies. Linking paediatric, pregnancy and second generation data will enable further monitoring of pregnancy outcomes in this newly emerging population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction During pregnancy, LPV/r is a common anchor drug employed to treat the mother's HIV-1 infection in addition to reducing the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). The National Study of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood (NSHPC) conducts a comprehensive population-based surveillance of HIV infection in pregnant women exposed to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the UK and Ireland; in 2003-2012 over a third of pregnancies reported to the NSHPC involved exposure to LPV/r. Methods We undertook a retrospective were descriptive analysis of individual NSHPC patient data, using pregnancy as the unit of observation. Clinical outcomes for pregnancies reported by June 2013, where women were exposed to LPV/r and due to deliver between January 2003 and December 2012, are described. Results A total of 4864 LPV/r exposed pregnancies in 4118 women were identified. These resulted in 4702 deliveries with 4759 live and 46 stillborn infants. Seventy five percent of women were born in sub-Saharan Africa, 13% in the UK or Ireland. Median maternal age at conception was 30 years. Nine hundred and eighty (20%) pregnancies were conceived while taking LPV/r, with a median duration of LPV/r exposure of 270 days. A total of 3884 (80%) pregnancies initiated LPV/r after conception, with a median duration of LPV/r exposure of 107 days. Viral load (VL) close to delivery was available for 4083/4702 (87%) deliveries, with VL <50 c/mL in 73% and <1000 c/mL in 94% of women. VL by timing of LPV/r initiation is shown in Table 1. Sixty three percent of deliveries were by C-section, of which 62% were classified as elective and 38% as emergency. Among singleton liveborn infants, 13% were born prior to 37 weeks gestation (2.5% <32 weeks) and 15% had birth weight <2500 g (2.3% <1500 g). HIV infection status was available for 4039 (89%) singleton infants. For the periods 2003-2007 and 2008-2012, MTCT rates were 1.1% (95% CI 0.6-1.6) and 0.5% (95% CI 0.2-0.8) respectively. Hundred and thirty four live born children (2.8%) had at least one congenital abnormality reported. Conclusions In the NSHPC database, in women exposed to LPV/r during pregnancy in the UK and Ireland, MTCT rates are low and continue to decline, and are similar to rates in the entire NSHPC cohort of women with diagnosed HIV [1]. The congenital abnormality rate is comparable with that reported for the uninfected population in this geographic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction High rates of hepatotoxicity have been observed among HIV-positive pregnant women using antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, the extent to which pregnancy affects the risk of ART-induced hepatotoxicity is unclear since studies in this area have generated conflicting results. Material and Methods Combined data from the UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (UK CHIC) study and the UK and Ireland National Study of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood (NSHPC) were used. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) data were assessed according to the Division of AIDS toxicity guidelines to identify factors associated with liver enzyme elevation (LEE) (grade 1-4). Women starting ART in 2000-11 aged 16-49 years were included irrespective of pregnancy status at ART start. Cox proportional hazards were used to assess the associations between fixed (ethnicity, exposure group, HBV/HCV co-infection, prior ART use, and age, year, pregnancy status, viral load and CD4 count at ART start) and time-dependent covariates (pregnancy status, age, year, CD4 count, viral load, duration on ART) and the risk of LEE. Results Of the 3426 women included, one-quarter (25.0%, n=857) were pregnant during follow-up and 14.4% ( n=492) started ART during pregnancy. The rate of LEE was 15/100 person-years (PY) during pregnancy and 6.1/100 PY outside pregnancy. The risk of LEE was increased during pregnancy (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.61 [1.26-2.06], p<0.001), including in secondary analysis excluding 493 women pregnant when starting ART. Other factors independently associated with LEE were lower CD4 count (<250 cells/mm3 vs. 251-350 cells/mm3 aHR 1.25 [1.02-1.54], p=0.03), HBV/HCV co-infection (aHR 1.94 [1.58-2.39], p<0.001), HIV acquired via injecting drug use (aHR 1.61 [1.15-2.24], p=0.01 vs. heterosexually) and calendar year (aHR 1.05 [1.02-1.08], p<0.001 per one year increase). Three ART drugs were associated with increased risk of LEE (efavirenz aHR 1.27 [1.06-1.50], p-value 0.008; maraviroc 4.19 [1.34-13.1], p=0.01; and nevirapine 1.59 [1.30-1.95], p-value <0.001). Use of zidovudine was associated with decreased risk of LEE (aHR 0.74 [0.63-0.87], p<0.001) as was increasing time on an NNRTI-based regimen (aHR 0.91 [0.86-0.96], p<0.001 per additional year). Conclusions Pregnant women were at increased risk of LEE, highlighting the importance of close monitoring of toxicity biomarkers during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction HIV-infected pregnant women are very likely to engage in HIV medical care to prevent transmission of HIV to their newborn. After delivery, however, childcare and competing commitments might lead to disengagement from HIV care. The aim of this study was to quantify loss to follow-up (LTFU) from HIV care after delivery and to identify risk factors for LTFU. Methods We used data on 719 pregnancies within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study from 1996 to 2012 and with information on follow-up visits available. Two LTFU events were defined: no clinical visit for >180 days and no visit for >360 days in the year after delivery. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for a LTFU event after delivery. Results Median maternal age at delivery was 32 years (IQR 28-36), 357 (49%) women were black, 280 (39%) white, 56 (8%) Asian and 4% other ethnicities. One hundred and seven (15%) women reported any history of IDU. The majority (524, 73%) of women received their HIV diagnosis before pregnancy, most of those (413, 79%) had lived with diagnosed HIV longer than three years and two-thirds (342, 65%) were already on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at time of conception. Of the 181 women diagnosed during pregnancy by a screening test, 80 (44%) were diagnosed in the first trimester, 67 (37%) in the second and 34 (19%) in the third trimester. Of 357 (69%) women who had been seen in HIV medical care during three months before conception, 93% achieved an undetectable HIV viral load (VL) at delivery. Of 62 (12%) women with the last medical visit more than six months before conception, only 72% achieved an undetectable VL (p=0.001). Overall, 247 (34%) women were LTFU over 180 days in the year after delivery and 86 (12%) women were LTFU over 360 days with 43 (50%) of those women returning. Being LTFU for 180 days was significantly associated with history of intravenous drug use (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.09-2.77, p=0.021) and not achieving an undetectable VL at delivery (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.03-3.11, p=0.040) after adjusting for maternal age, ethnicity, time of HIV diagnosis and being on ART at conception. Conclusions Women with a history of IDU and women with a detectable VL at delivery were more likely to be LTFU after delivery. This is of concern regarding their own health, as well as risk for sexual partners and subsequent pregnancies. Further strategies should be developed to enhance retention in medical care beyond pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]