Evaluation of Immunological and Virological Parameters of HIV-1-Infected Pregnant Women on ARVs in Chad

Introduction: AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, so the majority of infected people are young adults, and young women are a particularly vulnerable group. In HIV-1-infected pregnant women, biological monitoring is essential for the management of HIV-1 infection and for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. The aim of this study is to assess the biological parameters of HIV-1 pregnant women on ARVs in Chad. Methodology: We carried out a prospective descriptive cross-sectional study from June 2021 to January 2023 on 183 women undergoing antiretroviral treatment. Molecular techniques were used with a GENERIC HIV device for maternal viral load and a BD device for TCD4 lymphocytes. Results: 183 pregnant women on ARV e therapy were registered and monitored as normal. In this sample, the 20 - 30 age group of mothers was the most represented, with a frequency of 53.0%. In the city of Ndjamena, the TCD4 lymphocyte rate of 0 - 200 Cell/mm3 was 20% at inclusion and 99.3% of the TCD4 lymphocyte rate > 500 Cell/mm3 at M12. In Abéché at M0, 18.8% of mothers had a TCD4 lymphocyte count of 0 - 200/mm3, and at the twelfth month of treatment, 94.3% of patients had a TCD4 lymphocyte count > 500/mm3. A significant increase in CD4 count and a drop in viral load were observed. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the importance of antiretroviral treatment in assessing the biological parameters of pregnant women on ARVs, and in the early diagnosis of children born to HIV-1-positive mothers on antiretrovirals. Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a possibility in Chad.