Potential impact of new WHO criteria for antiretroviral treatment for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission

We reviewed the potential impact of new WHO criteria for antiretroviral therapy using data from 1025 HIV-infected women and infants followed for 24 months in Lusaka, Zambia. The new criteria require initiating therapy among 68% of pregnant women and, if fully effective, would prevent 92% of maternal deaths and 88% of perinatal and postnatal infections. Using CD4 cell count below 350 cells/μl, irrespective of clinical stage, is more efficient and stricter CD4 cutoffs would be counter productive.