Conditions: HIV Infection
Keywords: HIV Infection HAART Maternal Health
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 1653
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This study was a randomized strategy trial conducted among women who received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) during pregnancy for purposes of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV but did not otherwise meet criteria to initiate HAART for their own health. The study was designed to determine whether continuation of HAART after delivery or other pregnancy outcome reduced morbidity and mortality compared to discontinuation and re-initiation of HAART when protocol specified criteria were met.

Detailed description:
This randomized strategy trial addressed therapeutic questions for women from regions where antepartum HAART for PMTCT (for all CD4+ cell counts) and postpartum formula feeding is standard of care, and who also had both a pre-HAART CD4+ cell count \>400 cells/mm\^3 and a screening (on-HAART) CD4+ cell count \> 400 cells/mm\^3. For these women, the objectives related to the relative efficacy and safety of continuing HAART (when it is no longer used for PMTCT) versus discontinuing HAART.

Potential participants were identified/recruited and consented during pregnancy or after delivery or other pregnancy outcome. Study-specific screening was initiated in the third trimester or after pregnancy outcome. Women who were screened for the study were counseled to continue their HAART until they were randomized.

Randomization would occur within 0-42 days after pregnancy outcome. Women who did not carry their pregnancy to the third trimester but otherwise meet study eligibility criteria could be enrolled.

Participants were randomized to one of the two study arms:

Arm A: Continuation of HAART Arm B: Discontinuation of HAART and resume HAART when protocol-specified criteria were met

Participants were to be followed until 84 weeks after the last participant was randomized.

Key evaluations were conducted at Screening, Entry, post entry visits were scheduled to take place 4 weeks after entry, 12 weeks after entry, and every 12 weeks thereafter. Key evaluations included physical examinations, clinical assessments, and blood collection.

On 7 July 2015, the study sites received formal communications regarding the results of the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment (START) study and associated changes were implemented to the 1077HS study in response to these results. All sites were instructed that all women in the 1077HS study were to be informed of the START study results and that antiretroviral therapy (ART) was recommended for all women based on the START study results.

Arms:
arm 1: Continue receiving HAART within 0-42 days after delivery or other pregnancy outcome. arm 2: Stop receiving HAART within 0-42 days after delivery or other pregnancy outcome and resume HAART when protocol specified criteria were met.

Interventions: intervention 1: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: A combination of three or more HIV medications belonging to two or more drug classes.

The preferred study-supplied HAART regimen was lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/RTV) plus fixed dose combination tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC). Additional ARVs provided for use in this study included fixed dose combination lamivudine/zidovudine (3TC/ZDV), lamivudine (3TC), zidovudine (ZDV), tenofovir (TDF), fixed dose combination tenofovir/emtricitabine/rilpivirine (TDF/FTC/RPV), didanosine (ddI), atazanavir (ATV), raltegravir (RAL), and ritonavir (RTV). While LPV/RTV plus TDF/FTC was the preferred study-supplied regimen, the study clinicians in conjunction with participants would determine the optimal drug combination for each participant.

Protocol document: