Primary * pharmacokinetics of single dose nevirapine * the effect of single dose carbamazepine on the pk of single dose nevirapine * resistance against nevirapine before and after. * follow-up on HIV status newborns * relation between nevirapine levels in cord blood and plasma Secondary \* safety of single dose nevirapine and nevirapine/carbamazepine Hypothesis: Single dose carbamazepine decreases development of resistance to nevirapine in HIV positive pregnant Tanzanian women by decreasing nevirapine half-life.
Without the use of preventative measures, the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1 is estimated to vary between 25 and 48%. The regimen of single dose of nevirapine to the mother just before delivery and a single dose of nevirapine to the newborn within 24 - 72 hours after birth reduces the risk of MTCT by 50%, is affordable in many situations and is therefore standard of care in many African countries, like Tanzania. Recent studies, however, have shown that this single dose to the mother can induce the occurrence of nevirapine resistance in a large number of mothers. The mechanism of occurrence of nevirapine resistance already after a single dose is most likely related to the long elimination half-life of the drug. The subtherapeutic plasma levels present the perfect environment for the occurrence of resistance as the concentrations are subinhibitory for several days.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
144
Carbamazepine 400mg and Nevirapine 200mg are taken just before delivery during labor.
Nevirapine 200mg is taken prior to delivery during labor.
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College
Moshi, Tanzania
Cord blood will be taken less than 30 minutes after delivery
Time frame: 0 - 30 min after delivery
Blood samples from mother will be taken less than 30 minutes after delivery to measure viral load and CD4 count.
Time frame: 0 - 30 min after delivery
Blood samples will be drawn from mother and child at week 1 (day 6-8), week 2 (day 13-15) and week 3 (day 20-22)
Time frame: day 6 - 22 after delivery
From all samples plasma nevirapine and if applicable carbamazepine levels will be determined in women and newborns.
Time frame: 0 30 min after delivery - week 3 after delivery
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