Problems Associated With the Use of Anti-HIV Drugs in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women

The purpose of this study is to find out if HIV-infected pregnant women who take protease inhibitors (PIs) are more likely to have blood sugar problems than those who do not take PIs. HIV-infected people generally are treated with a combination of different types of anti-HIV drugs, 1 of which is usually a PI. The same holds true for pregnant women, but not much is known about the use of these drugs in pregnancy. Blood sugar and liver problems caused by anti-HIV drugs in nonpregnant patients are well known but their effects in pregnancy are not. Also, certain physical changes brought about by pregnancy may affect the way drugs are handled in the body. There remains a need for further study into the use of anti-HIV drugs during pregnancy and their effect on the safety of the mother and baby.