Lack of evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in the offspring of HIV-infected women. Retrospective review of perinatal exposure to antiretroviral drugs in the Perinatal AIDS Collaborative Transmission Study.

A recent report suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction among eight HIV-exposed but uninfected children exposed perinatally to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) prompted a review within the Perinatal AIDS Collaborative Transmission Study (PACTS). A standardized retrospective review was conducted of 118 deaths at < 5 years. Deaths were classified as unrelated to mitochondrial dysfunction (Class 1), unlikely related (Class 2), possibly related (Class 3), or likely related or proven (Class 4). Among 35 deaths recorded in HIV-uninfected or indeterminate children, none were classified in either Class 2, 3, or 4. We also reviewed signs or symptoms consistent with possible mitochondrial dysfunction among 1,954 living uninfected children. Only one child was in Class 3 and two siblings were in Class 2; none had perinatal antiretroviral drug exposure. We found no evidence indicating that uninfected infants exposed to perinatal NRTIs died of mitochondrial disorders or that living exposed children had symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction.