Anti-retroviral drug trial may have led to pregnant woman's death

Early studies found that single doses of the anti-retroviral drug nevirapine in HIV-positive pregnant women helped prevent HIV transmission in about 50% of births. Reporting problems and possible incorrect administration of the drug during human trials conducted by NIH led to a suspension of the study while it was being reviewed and altered. One woman had received multiple doses of the drug and allegedly died from liver damage soon after delivering her baby who was free of HIV. Side effects of the drug include liver damage or rashes if taken long term or in multiple doses. It is claimed that doctors should have noticed that the pregnant woman's liver was failing as early as two weeks prior to the birth. Corrective measures could possibly have saved her life. The woman's family is seeking legal action to find out exactly what happened. The family also claims that the woman was not made fully aware of the risks of liver damage. The NIH is defending the benefits of nevirapine.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Medical News Today

Related Disease Topics:

• HIV
• AIDS
• Liver disease
• Liver failure
• Rash
• Liver damage
• Pregnancy

Article Source Details

About: Anti-retroviral drug trial may have led to pregnant woman's death

Date: 17 December 2004

Source: Medical News Today

URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=17955

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Research
• Research and HIV
• Research and AIDS
• Research and liver disease
• Research and liver failure
• Research and rash
• Research and liver damage
• Research and pregnancy
• Death from liver disease
• Death from liver failure
• Death from liver damage
• Medication and HIV
• Medication and AIDS
• Medication and pregnancy
• Medication and liver disease
• Medication and liver failure
• Medication and liver damage
• Cause of liver damage
• Cause of liver failure
• Medical malpractice and HIV
• Medical malpractice and AIDS
• Medical malpractice and pregnancy
• Medical malpractice and liver disease
• Medical malpractice and liver failure
• Medical malpractice and liver damage
• Undiagnosed and liver damage
• Undiagnosed and liver failure

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