Persistent Immune Activation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Pregnant Women Starting Combination Antiretroviral Therapy After Conception.

Lohman-Payne, Barbara; Koster, Jacob; Gabriel, Benjamin; Chilengi, Roma; Forman, Leah S; Heeren, Tim; Duffy, Cassandra R; Herlihy, Julie et al. · J Infect Dis · 2022

prospective_cohort · Level II

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Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on immune activation during pregnancy in a Zambian cohort of HIV-exposed but uninfected children followed up from birth. Activated CD8+ T cells (CD38+ and HLA-DR+) were compared among HIV-uninfected (n = 95), cART experienced HIV-infected (n = 111), and cART-naive HIV-infected (n = 21) pregnant women. Immune activation was highest among HIV-infected/cART-naive women but decreased during pregnancy. Immune activation HIV-infected women who started cART during pregnancy was reduced but not to levels similar to those in HIV-uninfected women. The effects of elevated maternal immune activation in pregnancy on subsequent infant health and immunity remain to be determined.

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