Which drug is used to prevent vertical transmission of HIV from mother to fetus?

Which drug is used to prevent vertical transmission of HIV from mother to fetus?

• A. Leuprolide
• B. Zidovudine
• C. Misoprostol
• D. Mifepristone

Answer: (B)

Preventing vertical transmission of HIV hinges on lowering the mother’s viral load around the time of delivery with antiretroviral therapy. Zidovudine is an antiretroviral drug that inhibits HIV reverse transcriptase, reducing viral replication. When given to the mother during pregnancy and labor, it lowers the amount of virus that can cross the placenta; newborn prophylaxis with zidovudine after birth further decreases transmission risk. This approach, often used as part of combination antiretroviral therapy, has dramatically reduced mother-to-child infection rates. The other drugs listed serve different roles (for example, leuprolide is a hormonal agent, misoprostol is used to induce or augment labor, and mifepristone is used for medical abortion) and are not used to prevent HIV transmission.

Preventing vertical transmission of HIV hinges on lowering the mother’s viral load around the time of delivery with antiretroviral therapy. Zidovudine is an antiretroviral drug that inhibits HIV reverse transcriptase, reducing viral replication. When given to the mother during pregnancy and labor, it lowers the amount of virus that can cross the placenta; newborn prophylaxis with zidovudine after birth further decreases transmission risk. This approach, often used as part of combination antiretroviral therapy, has dramatically reduced mother-to-child infection rates. The other drugs listed serve different roles (for example, leuprolide is a hormonal agent, misoprostol is used to induce or augment labor, and mifepristone is used for medical abortion) and are not used to prevent HIV transmission.