The pharmacological treatment of acute HIV infections in neonates

Louise Kuhn, Stephanie Shiau

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Recent goals of antiretroviral treatment of neonates have expanded from reducing morbidity and mortality to also aiming to facilitate HIV remission. Areas covered: In this review, we present and discuss the rationale and evidence-bases for each of these distinct goals. Next we discuss the challenges of how to identify HIV-infected neonates. Finally, we discuss the specific antiretroviral drugs that are preferred for this group, making distinctions between the use of these agents in prevention and treatment. Expert commentary: The clinical and scientific challenges of pharmacological treatment of acute HIV infection in neonates are complicated by externalities beyond biology. At the same time, these challenges are energized by the unique biological opportunities afforded by investigating this population, including a unique immune profile, ability to study both mother and neonate as well as transmitted and acquired virus, and time period spanning both the period soon after infection as well as the period of viral reservoir establishment and related damage. Given the unique scientific opportunities afforded by study of pharmacologic treatment of acute HIV infection in neonates, we hypothesize that over the next five years breakthroughs may occur that may lead to new interventions effective at achieving HIV remission.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1353-1361
Number of pages9
JournalExpert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
Volume10
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2 2017
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
  • Pharmacology (medical)

Keywords

  • Antiretroviral therapy
  • HIV
  • immunity
  • neonates
  • remission

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