New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Malnutrition decreases effectiveness of HIV treatment in pregnant African women

Date:
February 18, 2014
Source:
Wiley
Summary:
In Uganda the prescription of three antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, which aim to suppress the virus to prevent disease progression, have resulted in huge reductions in HIV mortality rates. However, disease is not the only scourge in Uganda, and a new study explores the impact food insecurity may have on treating pregnant women. Blood and hair samples from 221 women were analyzed, revealing that 80% of patients were malnourished and 26% lost weight during their pregnancy. Average (median) Body Mass Index was found to be only 20.2 kg/m2. The team found that, compared to well-nourished patients, drug exposure was reduced in these patients.
Share:
FULL STORY

In Uganda the prescription of three antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, which aim to suppress the virus to prevent disease progression, have resulted in huge reductions in HIV mortality rates. However, disease is not the only scourge in Uganda, and a new study in The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology explores the impact food insecurity may have on treating pregnant women.

A U.S-Ugandan research team explored the affect pregnancy and malnutrition can have on the administration of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) and efavirenz (EFV) drugs among HIV-infected women in Tororo, Uganda.

Blood and hair samples from 221 women were analyzed, revealing that 80% of patients were malnourished and 26% lost weight during their pregnancy. Average (median) Body Mass Index was found to be only 20.2 kg/m2.

The team found that, compared to well-nourished patients, drug exposure was reduced in these patients (LPV −33%, EFV −15%, ritonavir −17%).

"This study in 221 pregnant and breastfeeding HIV-infected women with severe food insecurity in Uganda showed that food insecurity influences exposure parameters to antiretroviral treatment," said Dr. Imke Bartelink. "Compared to previously published data from well-nourished women, food insecurity is associated with decreases in antiretroviral exposure ranging from 15% to 41% in this group of pregnant and breastfeeding women, irrespective of pregnancy status."


Story Source:

Materials provided by Wiley. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Imke H. Bartelink, Rada M. Savic, Julia Mwesigwa, Jane Achan, Tamara Clark, Albert Plenty, Edwin Charlebois, Moses Kamya, Sera L. Young, Monica Gandhi, Diane Havlir, Deborah Cohan, Francesca Aweeka. Pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir and efavirenz in food insecure HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women in tororo, uganda. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2014; 54 (2): 121 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.167

Cite This Page:

Wiley. "Malnutrition decreases effectiveness of HIV treatment in pregnant African women." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 February 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140218100713.htm>.
Wiley. (2014, February 18). Malnutrition decreases effectiveness of HIV treatment in pregnant African women. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140218100713.htm
Wiley. "Malnutrition decreases effectiveness of HIV treatment in pregnant African women." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140218100713.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES