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Ajibola G, Zash R, Shapiro RL, Batlang O, Botebele K, Bennett K, Chilisa F, von Widenfelt E, Makhema J, Lockman S, Holmes LB, Powis KM. Detecting congenital malformations - Lessons learned from the Mpepu study, Botswana. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173800. [PMID: 28339500 PMCID: PMC5365099 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A large and increasing number of HIV-infected women are conceiving on antiretroviral treatment (ART). While most antiretrovirals are considered safe in pregnancy, monitoring for rare pregnancy and infant adverse outcomes is warranted. METHODS We conducted a retrospective secondary analysis nested within a clinical trial of infant cotrimoxazole vs. placebo prophylaxis in Botswana (the Mpepu Study). Infants were examined at birth, and at least every 3 months through 18 months of age. Abnormal physical findings and diagnostic testing revealing malformations were documented. Post hoc, a geneticist classified all reported malformations based on available documentation. Structural malformations with surgical, medical or cosmetic importance were classified as major malformations. We present a descriptive analysis of identified malformations. RESULTS Between 2011 and 2014, 2,933 HIV-infected women who enrolled in the Mpepu study delivered 2,971 live-born infants. Study staff conducted 2,944 (99%) newborn exams. One thousand eighty-eight (38%) women were taking ART at conception; 1,147 (40%) started ART during pregnancy; 442 (15%) received zidovudine monotherapy; and 223 (7%) received no antiretroviral during pregnancy. Of 33 reported anomalies, 25 (76%) met congenital malformations criteria, 10 (30%) were classified as major malformations, 4 (40%) of which were identified after the birth exam. DISCUSSION Our results highlight the importance of staff training on identification of congenital malformations, programmatic monitoring beyond the birth examination and the value of geneticist involvement in the malformations classification process in resource-limited settings. These elements will be important to fully define antiretroviral drug safety in pregnancy. SIGNIFICANCE Surveillance systems for monitoring the safety of antiretroviral use during pregnancy among HIV-infected women in resource-limited setting are lacking. The World Health Organization's published programmatic recommendations for such surveillance systems represents the gold standard. We employed data from a clinical trial in Botswana, a country with a generalized HIV epidemic and high antiretroviral uptake by HIV-infected women, to highlight practical opportunities to strengthen congenital malformation surveillance systems in these settings where over 1 million HIV infected pregnant women reside. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials.gov NCT01229761.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca Zash
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Roger L. Shapiro
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Oganne Batlang
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | | | - Kara Bennett
- Bennett Statistical Consulting, Inc., Ballston Lake, New York, United States of America
| | | | | | - Joseph Makhema
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Shahin Lockman
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Infectious Disease Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lewis B. Holmes
- Genetics Unit, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kathleen M Powis
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Global Health, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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