In July 2019 new information was presented at the International AIDS Society meeting (Mexico City) regarding the use of dolutegravir in pregnancy. Background: In May 2018, preliminary findings from an observational study in Botswana identified a potential increased risk of neural tube defects among infants born to women who had been treated with dolutegravir at the time of conception. Warnings were issued by Health Canada and other health agencies in response to this safety signal, and the Oak Tree Clinic at BC Women’s Hospital developed interim dolutegravir prescribing guidelines.
In July 2019 newly published studies reported that, although the risk of neural tube defects may be somewhat higher if dolutegravir is taken at the time of conception compared to other antiretroviral drugs, the difference in risk between dolutegravir and other antiretrovirals is lower than suggested by the preliminary analysis. In response to this new data, the Oak Tree Clinic at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, in collaboration with the BC-CfE, has REVISED the Dolutegravir prescribing guidelines for pregnancy and women of reproductive potential.
Click here to view the most recent updates to the Oak Tree Clinic resources for healthcare providers (scroll down the page to Antiretroviral Drug Information).