Perinatal and Early Infant Outcomes After Bictegravir Exposure in Pregnancy: A Canadian Surveillance Study

Bictegravir (BIC) was recently transitioned from insufficient data in pregnancy to an alternative antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy. Our study aimed to examine the perinatal and early infant outcomes after BIC exposure in pregnancy in Canada.

Data were obtained from the Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program for liveborn infants from July 28, 2018, to December 31, 2023. Using univariate analyses, BIC-exposed infants were compared with infants exposed to other antiretroviral regimens. To determine the independent association between preterm births and BIC, we completed a logistic regression analysis adjusting for relevant preterm birth risk factors.

Among 1256 infants, 161 infants were exposed to BIC in pregnancy compared with 1095 infants exposed to non-BIC regimens. BIC exposure was categorized as preconception BIC with continued use in pregnancy (n = 81; 52%), preconception BIC with discontinuation in pregnancy (n = 34; 22%), and BIC started in pregnancy (n = 41; 26%). Infants exposed to BIC were more likely born to Indigenous mothers (38% vs. 21%; P < 0.001) linked with injection drug use (28% vs. 14%; P < 0.001). Infants exposed to BIC were more likely born preterm (19.4% vs. 12.9%; P = 0.025). After adjusting for ethnicity, maternal mode of HIV transmission, and viral load at delivery, preterm birth was not associated with BIC exposure (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 0.78 to 2.49; P = 0.261). There were no between-group differences in maternal HIV viral load at delivery, mode of delivery, small for gestational age, perinatal HIV transmission, or congenital anomalies.

BIC was not independently associated with adverse perinatal and early infant outcomes in the Canadian cohort, supporting recent guideline updates.