HIV pregnancy guidelines had little data to go on
Arboleda, C.H.
Gmhc Treatment Issues the Gay Men's Health Crisis Newsletter of Experimental Aids Therapies 11(7-8): 31-32
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1077-1824 PMID: 11364651 Document Number: 482484
Although treatment recommendations for pregnant HIV-positive women are addressed in Federal guidelines, there are no firmly-defined answers to when treatment should begin and how the existing drugs should be used. There is a lack of research on the safety and efficacy of the available drugs, with the exception of AZT, 3TC, and nevirapine. Pregnant women do not have enough scientific information available to make an informed decision. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classify drugs based on clinical data relevant to their use in pregnancy; that table is included. Some treatment-naive patients are counseled to delay therapy until after 10 to 12 weeks of gestation, but after that point, treatment should continue.