Original Article


Developmental delay and behavioral disorders in 59 HIV-exposed uninfected infants

Véronique Reliquet, Cécile Brunet-Cartier, Elise Launay, François Raffi

Abstract

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV pregnant women has led to a dramatic decrease in the rate of HIV mother-to-child transmission but this benefit is counterbalanced with adverse effects related to in utero and neonatal exposure to ART. In 2013, some parents described neurodevelopmental disorders in their children.
Methods: A standardized letter was sent to the 133 women who delivered in Nantes hospital from 01/01/2003 to 31/12/2012 (167 births).
Results: Response rate was 33%. Over a 10-year period, 7 children had behavioral disorders and/or cognitive/developmental delay, 1 child had developmental delay + growth retardation and 2 experienced cancer.
Conclusions: We found a significant association between neurodevelopmental disorders, preterm birth and exposure to 3 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Further studies are needed and long-term follow-up into adulthood should continue.

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