In Vivo Effects of HIV-1 Exposure in the Presence and Absence of Single-Dose Nevirapine on Cellular Plasma Activation Markers of Infants Born to HIV-1 —Seropositive Mothers.

The article reports on the hypothesis that single-dose nevirapine (NVP) reduces immune activation, which in turn reduces the likelihood of transmission of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1. Concentrations of cord and maternal blood plasma immune activation markers and neopterin in newborns whose mothers received NVP were compared. A biological explanation is presented for why HIV-1 infected infants exposed perinatally to antiretroviral drugs might experience hastened disease progression.