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Published on: December 9, 2010
Pediatric Antiretroviral Therapy
Sahera Dirajlal-Fargo1, Wei Li A Koay2,3, Natella Rakhmanina2,3,4
1Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. sahera.dirajlal-fargo@uhhospitals.org.
Insights
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) benefits children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but access to pediatric formulations remains a challenge. This review covers available pediatric HIV treatments, dosing, and safety for neonates, children, and adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) significantly impacts children globally, with millions affected.
- Lifelong antiretroviral treatment (ART) is crucial for managing pediatric HIV, offering benefits like immune restoration and reduced mortality.
- Challenges persist in accessing pediatric ART, especially for infants, due to limited drug formulations and availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of available antiretroviral drugs for pediatric HIV.
- To detail formulations, dosing, and safety considerations for pediatric antiretroviral medications.
- To categorize information by drug class and age groups: neonates, children, and adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current pediatric antiretroviral drug formulations.
- Analysis of dosing guidelines across different pediatric age groups.
- Compilation of safety data and comorbidity considerations associated with pediatric HIV treatment.
Main Results:
- Overview of diverse antiretroviral drug classes available for pediatric use.
- Detailed dosing recommendations tailored to neonates, children, and adolescents.
- Identification of potential long-term comorbidities associated with HIV and ART in pediatric populations.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of pediatric HIV requires accessible and age-appropriate ART formulations.
- Understanding dosing and safety profiles is essential for optimizing treatment outcomes in children and adolescents with HIV.
- Addressing formulation and access challenges is critical to improve the quality of life for children living with HIV.
Abstract:
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most serious pediatric infectious diseases, affecting around 3 million children and adolescents worldwide. Lifelong antiretroviral treatment (ART) provides multiple benefits including sustained virologic suppression, restoration and preservation of immune function, decreased morbidity and mortality, and improved quality of life. However, access to ART, particularly among neonates and young infants, continues to be challenging due to limited number of suitable formulations and limited access to pediatric ARV drug. Moreover, children and adolescents living with HIV may experience long-term HIV- and ART-associated comorbidities including cardiovascular, renal, neurological, and metabolic complications. We provide an overview of currently available formulations, dosing, and safety considerations for pediatric antiretroviral drugs by drug classes and according to the three age groups including neonates, children, and adolescents.
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