Medical Bulletin 4/August/2023

Corticosteroids are known to help increase the chance of a baby born early surviving and having fewer health problems. Ideally, they should be given before 34 weeks of pregnancy and within approximately one week of birth. But their effects on later childhood health are less well understood, particularly when administration is “mistimed” and infants are born at term.

Reference: The BMJ, Antenatal corticosteroids and longer term outcomes DOI 10.1136/bmj.p1722

Novel HIV drug formulation could improve treatment outcomes for children globally

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have helped confirm the dosing, safety and effectiveness of a drug formulation designed for treating children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The study was published in The Lancet HIV and reveals a new dispersible formulation and an immediate-release tablet containing three medications - dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine - in a single fixed dose combination (FDC) formulation is safe, well tolerated, and effective for treating children with HIV. The dosing based on the concentrations of each medication in the blood was also appropriate.

Reference: Kristina Brooks et al, The Lancet HIV. doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(23)00107-8.