Molecular and Genetic Medicine

Antiretroviral Therapy for Mitochondrial Toxicity in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women

Abstract

Tamuzi JL and Tshimwanga JL

Background: The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected women is crucial to restore and maintain the immune system and prevent HIV transmission during pregnancy, labor, delivery and breastfeeding. Furthermore, ART reduce the risk of Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Therefore, ART has been associated with mitochondrial defections that could induce preeclampsia, preterm birth, low birthweight, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), stillbirth and sudden infant death. Objective: To evaluate the effect of antiretroviral therapy on mitochondrial defections in HIV-infected pregnant women. Methods: We searched eligible studies in MEDLINE, Scorpus and WHO Global Index Medicus. Included studies were assessing the effects of antiretroviral therapy on genetic mitochondrial diseases in HIV infected pregnant women and HIV exposed infants. JTL searched eligible studies in different databases and both JLT and JLT critically appraised included studies. Results: We found five observational studies with low risk of bias. All studies illustrated that ART increased the mean of mitochondrial defections. The results were statistically significant in all studies with P<0.05. Conclusion: Mitochondrial lesions were very common in HIV infected pregnant women and HIV exposed infants. However, further investigations are needful to strengthen this evidence.