Nevirapine Study for the Prevention of Maternal-Infant HIV Transmission in Uganda

Overview

The increase in pediatric HIV infection has a substantial impact on childhood mortality in the developing world. A number of recent studies suggest that as many as half or more of mother-to-child HIV transmissions in developing countries occur in late pregnancy or during labor and delivery. Interventions targeted during the perinatal period have shown to be effective and to have a significant impact in reducing transmission. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of nevirapine (NVP) plus immunoprophylaxis or extended NVP dosing regimens in HIV-infected pregnant women and their infants during the perinatal period.

There is an urgent need to find safe, effective means of preventing mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) of HIV that can be used in developing countries. One of the greatest obstacles to prevention in these areas remains HIV transmission through breast milk. The primary purpose of this trial is to determine if nevirapine (NVP) plus immunoprophylaxis (by intravenous HIV immune globulin \[HIVIGLOB\]) or extended NVP dosing of the neonate during the perinatal period can safely and effectively reduce the risk of peripartum or early breastfeeding-related HIV MTCT. This study will last 11-18 weeks for each mother and 18 months for each infant. HIV-infected pregnant women will be randomly assigned to one of three arms. Participants in Arm 1 will receive a single dose of 200 mg NVP orally at the onset of labor. Infants in Arm 1 will receive a single dose of 2 mg/kg NVP orally within the first week after delivery. Arm 2 participants will receive a single dose of 200 mg NVP orally at the onset of labor. Infants in Arm 2 will receive 2 mg/kg NVP orally within the first week after delivery and 5 mg NVP taken orally daily from Day 8 through Week 6. Arm 3 participants will receive a 12 gm intravenous dose of HIVIGLOB at 36-37 weeks gestation and 200 mg NVP orally at the onset of labor. Infants in Arm 3 will receive a single 1.2 gm intravenous dose HIVIGLOB within 18 hours of birth and 2 mg/kg NVP orally within the first week after delivery. There will be five or six study visits for pregnant participants. A targeted medical history, physical examination, and blood collection will occur at all visits. After birth, there will be 11 study visits for infants in Arms 1 and 2 and 12 study visits for infants in Arm 3. Medical history and a targeted physical exam will occur at all visits. Blood collection will occur at some visits.