Pregnancy

Although there are no full controlled studies of d4T (stavudine, Zerit) in pregnancy, a recent study has reported that d4T in conjunction with other antiretrovirals was well tolerated in ten pregnant women.1 However, because of the small size of this study, and the potential low risk of blood disorders, congenital abnormalities and miscarriage, d4T should be administered to pregnant women with caution.2 3

Pregnant women taking ddI and d4T together may be at increased risk of the life-threatening condition lactic acidosis. This was the subject of a warning by the United States Food and Drug Administration and Bristol-Myers Squibb, d4T’s manufacturer, in January 2001, following three reported deaths in pregnant women taking these two drugs.

References

  1. Wade N et al. Pharmacokinetics and safety of stavudine in HIV-infected pregnant women and their infants: Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 332. J Infect Dis 190: 2167-2174, 2004
  2. Blanche S et al. Safety of stavudine during pregnancy. J Infect Dis 191: 1567-1568, 2005
  3. Wade N et al. Reply to Blanche. J Infect Dis 191: 1568, 2005
This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.