Potential impact of new WHO criteria for antiretroviral treatment for prevention of mother-to- child HIV transmission
Louise Kuhn, Grace M Aldrovandi, Moses Sinkala, Chipepo Kankasa, Mwiya Mwiya, Donald M Thea, Louise Kuhn, Grace M Aldrovandi, Moses Sinkala, Chipepo Kankasa, Mwiya Mwiya, Donald M Thea
Abstract
We reviewed the potential impact of new WHO criteria for antiretroviral therapy using data from 1025 HIV-infected women and infants followed for 24 months in Lusaka, Zambia. The new criteria require initiating therapy among 68% of pregnant women and, if fully effective, would prevent 92% of maternal deaths and 88% of perinatal and postnatal infections. Using CD4 cell count below 350 cells/microl, irrespective of clinical stage, is more efficient and stricter CD4 cutoffs would be counter productive.
Source: PubMed