Sociodemographic changes and trends in the rates of new perinatal HIV diagnoses and transmission in Spain from 1997 to 2015

Challenges, risks, and opportunities of antiretroviral drugs in women of reproductive potential

INTRODUCTION

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been one of the greatest challenges in global health, significantly affecting women of reproductive potential. Considerable advances in antiretroviral therapy for women living with HIV have contributed to improvements in quality of life, better reproductive and birth outcomes, and a reduced risk of perinatal transmission.

AREAS COVERED

Despite the progress made, persistent challenges in access and adherence to antiretroviral drugs may limit their benefits for some women. More pharmacokinetic and safety studies in pregnant and lactating women are urgently needed, as are prospective surveillance systems to evaluate associations between fetal and infant antiretroviral exposures, drug-drug interactions, and pregnancy outcomes.

EXPERT OPINION

Multipurpose technologies, such as combined HIV and other STI or unintended pregnancy prevention, and innovative delivery methods, such as the development of long-acting antiretrovirals, have the potential to reduce adherence challenges and enhance quality of life for women with HIV. Parallel advances in drug safety testing and surveillance are needed to ensure the health and safety of women with or at risk for HIV and children at risk for perinatal transmission.

Immunogenicity of the Conjugate Meningococcal ACWY-TT Vaccine in Children and Adolescents Living with HIV

BACKGROUND

Children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV) are at high risk of meningococcal infections and may present lower immune responses to vaccines. The objectives of this study were to assess the immunogenicity of the quadrivalent Men ACWY-TT vaccine (Nimenrix®) in CALHIV after a two-dose schedule and to describe possible HIV-related factors that may affect the immunogenic response.

METHODS

A multicenter prospective study was designed, including CALHIV followed in five hospitals in Madrid, between 2019 and 2021. Two doses of the Men ACWY-TT vaccine were administered. Serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) assays using rabbit complement (rSBA) against serogroups C, W, and Y were used to determine seroprotection and vaccine response (the proportion achieving a putative protective titer of ≥eight or a ≥four-fold rise in titer from baseline). Serum was collected at baseline, and at 3 and 12 months after vaccination.

RESULTS

There were 29 CALHIV included, 76% of whom were perinatally infected. All were receiving TAR and presented a good immunovirological and clinical status overall. At baseline, 45% of CALHIV had seroprotective titers to at least one serogroup, with individual seroprotection rates of 24%, 28%, and 32% against C, W, and Y, respectively. After a two-dose schedule, vaccine response was 83% for each serogroup, eliciting a vaccine response to all serogroups in 69% of them. One year after vaccination, 75% of CALHIV maintained seroprotective titers against the C serogroup, and 96% against W and Y. None of the HIV-related characteristics analyzed could predict vaccine response or antibody duration.

CONCLUSIONS

CALHIV who received effective TAR and presented a good immuno-virological situation achieved an appropriate vaccine response after two doses of the Men ACWY-TT vaccine, and antibody-mediated protection against serogroups C, W, and Y was maintained in more than 70% of the patients one year after vaccination.

Unplanned pregnancies and social and partner support during pregnancy in Spanish women living with HIV

OBJECTIVES

To describe prevalence and factors associated with unplanned pregnancies, and social and partner support during pregnancy among women from the Cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS).

METHODS

We included all women recruited in CoRIS from 2004 to 2019, aged 18-50 years at recruitment who were pregnant during 2020. We designed a questionnaire, organized into the following domains: sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco and alcohol consumption, pregnancy and reproductive health, and social and partner support. The information was gathered via telephone interviews conducted from June to December 2021. We calculated prevalence of unplanned pregnancies as well as odds ratios (ORs) of association and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to sociodemographic, clinical and reproductive characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 53 women who were pregnant during 2020, 38 (71.7%) answered the questionnaire. Median age at pregnancy was 36 years [interquartile range (IQR) 31-39], 27 (71.1%) women were born outside of Spain, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa (39.5%) and 17 (44.7%) were employed. Thirty-four (89.5%) women had been through previous pregnancies and 32 (84.2%) had experienced previous abortions/miscarriages. Seventeen (44.7%) women had shared with their clinician their desire to get pregnant. Thirty-four (89.5%) pregnancies were natural and four used assisted reproductive techniques (in vitro fertilizations; one additionally used oocyte donation). Of 34 women with natural pregnancies, pregnancy was unplanned in 21 (61.8%) and 25 (73.5%) had information on how to become pregnant avoiding HIV transmission to the baby and partner. Women who did not seek advice from their physician about becoming pregnant had a significantly increased risk of unplanned pregnancy (OR = 71.25, 95% CI: 8.96-566.67). Overall, 14 (36.8%) women reported having low social support during pregnancy and 27 (71.0%) had good/very good support by their partner.

CONCLUSIONS

Most pregnancies were natural and unplanned and very few women had talked with their clinician about their desire to become pregnant. A high proportion of women reported low social support during pregnancy.

Mental Health in Children, Adolescents, and Youths Living with Perinatally Acquired HIV: At the Crossroads of Psychosocial Determinants of Health

Here, we aim to describe mental health (MH) in a cohort of children, adolescents, and young adults living with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) in Spain and explore the treatment gap for mental disorders. We also aim to analyze the potential association between MH issues to psychosocial risk factors (PSRFs) and identify management priorities. We conducted a descriptive transversal study that included all cases of PHIV under follow-up in a reference hospital in Madrid. The study included patients undergoing follow-up in the pediatric outpatient clinic and youths transferred from pediatric to adult care units after 1997. Epidemiological, clinical, immunovirological, and treatment-related data were collected, including PSRF and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Of the 72 patients undergoing follow-up, 43 (59.7%) had already been transferred to the adult outpatient clinic. The patients' median age was 25 years (IQR 18-29), and 54.2% were women. Most patients were undergoing treatment (94.6%) and were virologically suppressed (84.7%). Although MH issues were present in 30 patients (41.7%), only 17 (56.7%) had been referred for evaluation to the Department of Mental Health, and only 9 (30%) had received a MH diagnosis. PSRFs were common (32% of participants had at least one PSRF) and were associated with MH issues and adherence issues (all p < 0.05). A multidisciplinary approach to address the psychological factors and social determinants of health is urgently needed, particularly during important life development stages, such as adolescence.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in newborns born to HIV-infected mothers

INTRODUCTION

Congenital citomegalovirus (CMVc) infection is more common in children exposed to HIV during pregnancy, with reported rates in pre-ART era from 2 to 7%. The use of combined antiretroviral treatment (ARTc) could be a determining factor in reducing this risk of CMV transmission. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of CMVc infection in newborns of HIV-infected mothers at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain, from 2000 to 2017.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An observational and retrospective study was carried out. Epidemiological and clinical variables were collected. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS 24.0 computer program.

RESULTS

288 mother-infant pairs were included in the study. We observed a CMVc rate of 2.1% (95% CI 0.9-4.9).

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of CMVc in HIV-exposed children observed was lower than that reported in pre-ARTc era but seems higher than those described in general population.