They concluded that the use of combination regimens before or early in pregnancy slightly increased the risk of prematurity, but also that ART during pregnancy was not associated with an overall increased risk of premature delivery (odds ratio 1.01; 95% CI 0.76–1.34). PI-containing regimens were associated with a slightly increased risk of prematurity, whereas the use of monotherapy was associated with a slightly decreased risk. Of note, in Switzerland, virtually all pregnant women who received cART during pregnancy were prescribed PI-containing regimens, which could at least in part

explain the differences with US data, where this proportion might be lower [17]. Recently, Fiore et al. [18] SB203580 in vitro reported that ART increased interleukin (IL)-2 and decreased IL-10 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and that an increase in Epacadostat chemical structure IL-2 was independently associated with an increase in the risk of prematurity. They speculated that this antiretroviral-associated

modulation of the immune response could be one explanation for the observed prematurity increase in women with ART. In conclusion, our study lends support to the view that treatment of pregnant women with cART for their own health or for vertical transmission prophylaxis is associated with increased rates of premature birth. We were able to adjust for a number of confounding factors for prematurity in a subgroup of well-documented women. Although the risk for prematurity might be more Idoxuridine pronounced in women with a longer duration of PI-based treatment, we were not able to demonstrate a difference in prematurity rates between groups of women who started cART before and during pregnancy nor a direct correlation between the duration of cART until

delivery and the duration of pregnancy. The members of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and the Swiss Mother & Child HIV Cohort Study are: C. Aebi, M. Battegay, E. Bernasconi, J. Böni, P. Brazzola, H. C. Bucher, P. Bürgisser, A. Calmy, S. Cattacin, M. Cavassini, J. J. Cheseaux, G. Drack, R. Dubs, M. Egger, L. Elzi, M. Fischer, M. Flepp, A. Fontana, P. Francioli (President of the SHCS), H. Furrer, C. A. Fux, A. Gayet-Ageron, S. Gerber, M. Gorgievski, C. Grawe, H. F. Günthard, T. Gyr, H. H. Hirsch, B. Hirschel, I. Hösli, L. Kaiser, C. Kahlert, U. Karrer, C. Kind, T. Klimkait, B. Ledergerber, G. Martinetti, N. Müller, D. Nadal, F. Paccaud, G. Pantaleo, L. Raio, A. Rauch, S. Regenass, M. Rickenbach, C. Rudin (Chairman of the MoCHiV Substudy), P. Schmid, D. Schultze, F. Schöni-Affolter, J. Schüpbach, R. Speck, B. M. de Tejada, P. Taffé, A. Telenti, A. Trkola, P. Vernazza, R. Weber, C. A. Wyler and S. Yerly. This study was financed in the framework of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.