Question

___ is an NNRTI that has the potential to cause neural tube defects in HIV positive pregnant women; however, no changes should be made to the drug regimen that already includes the above drug as the risk of teratogenecity is less than the risk of loss of virological control

Answer 1

The NNRTI that could potentially cause neural tube defects in HIV-positive pregnant women is not specified, but ART, including NRTIs, NNRTIs, and PIs, is crucial for managing HIV. No changes to an effective regimen should be made without consulting healthcare providers due to the risk of losing virological control.

Step-by-step explanation:

The medication being referenced as an NNRTI that could potentially cause neural tube defects in HIV-positive pregnant women is not explicitly mentioned in the text. However, it's critical to discuss the use of antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy with a healthcare provider to balance the risks and benefits. In general, no changes should be made to an effective drug regimen without careful consideration, as it can lead to loss of virological control.

Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) typically includes a variety of drugs such as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), and protease inhibitors (PIs). Among NRTIs, drugs like zalcitabine (ddC), didanosine (ddl), and abacavir are commonly used in the treatment. Tenofovir is a different class of NRTI known as a nucleoside phosphonate.

Additionally, combinations of drugs, including integrase inhibitors and sometimes fusion inhibitors, are administrated to reduce the viral load in HIV-infected individuals.