Emergence of drug-resistant HIV-1 after intrapartum administration of single-dose nevirapine is substantially underestimated

J Infect Dis. 2005 Jul 1;192(1):16-23. doi: 10.1086/430741. Epub 2005 Jun 1.

Abstract

Conventional sequence analysis detects human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 drug resistance mutations in approximately 40% of women shortly after they receive intrapartum single-dose nevirapine (SD-NVP). Using sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for the K103N and Y181C resistance mutations, we tested genotyped virus before and after SD-NVP in 50 South African women infected with HIV-1 subtype C. By sequence analysis, 40 women had no detectable resistance mutations, and an additional 6 women were negative for Y181C after SD-NVP. We found K103N in 16 (40%) of 40 women and Y181C in 5 (11%) of 46 women at 6-36 weeks postpartum. Clonal sequencing confirmed K103N in 5 of 5 representative samples and Y181C in 4 of 4 samples. Four of the 5 women with newly identified Y181C also had K103N. These findings indicate that resistance mutations emerged in at least 65% of the women after SD-NVP and emphasize the importance of further research to determine the clinical implications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Resistance, Viral*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
  • Mutation
  • Nevirapine / administration & dosage
  • Nevirapine / pharmacology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Viral Proteins
  • Nevirapine