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Brief Report: Birth and Infant Growth Outcomes After Prenatal Exposure to Bictegravir

Misgana Woldemeskel1,2, Justin Unternaher3,4, Olivia Munger3

  • 1Department of Global Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC.

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (1999)
|June 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Bictegravir (BIC) use during pregnancy is increasingly common, but infant outcomes are not well-documented. This study found that most HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) exposed to BIC prenatally had normal birth weights and early growth indicators.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Limited data exist on infant health outcomes following maternal use of bictegravir (BIC) during pregnancy.
  • Evaluating these outcomes is crucial given the increasing use of BIC in pregnant individuals with HIV.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess birth and early growth outcomes in HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) with prenatal exposure to bictegravir (BIC).

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 60 HIV-exposed infants born between 2019-2022.
  • Infant outcomes including birth measurements, HIV status, and growth indicators (head circumference, weight-for-length, length-for-age) were assessed.
  • Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, comparing outcomes based on the duration of maternal BIC exposure during pregnancy.

Main Results:

  • Most infants (92%) had normal head circumference, 85% had normal weight-for-length, and 92% had normal length-for-age.
  • Abnormal growth indicators were observed in a minority of infants (8-15%), with no clear association to the duration of BIC exposure.
  • The majority of infants (95%) were confirmed HIV-negative, and maternal viral load was suppressed in 70% of cases.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to bictegravir (BIC) was associated with favorable birth outcomes in most HIV-exposed infants.
  • Early growth indicators in infants exposed to BIC during gestation were generally normal, regardless of exposure duration.
Abstract

Keywords:
HIV-exposed infantsantiretroviral therapybictegravirinfant growthpregnancy

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