The 2024 version of the collaborative Penta/EACS HIV treatment guidelines is now available here with the section on paediatric HIV management, prophylaxis and feeding available here.
The aim of these guidelines is to provide a concise reference document to guide antiretroviral choices for children and adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV, as well as strategies for prevention of vertical transmission in the European region and to harmonise practice both across Europe as well as with guidance for adults.
A table with guidance on dosing and use of paediatric formulations (updated for 2024-2026) is also provided. This is produced and updated regularly by members of the Penta guidelines group. It should be noted that this guidance table provides some dosing recommendations outside of current European licensing. Local policy for use of unlicensed medication and dosing should be followed if this is the case and required.*
Perinatal Virtual Clinic
The Perinatal Virtual Clinic is a forum for complex case discussion for children and young people living with HIV and for prevention of vertical transmission. Discussion topics include ART start, virological failure/resistance, long-acting ART, Hepatitis/TB co-infection, malignancy, ART toxicity, ART simplification from older/potentially more toxic agents/greater potential for drug-drug interaction (eg. boosted protease inhibitors, zidovudine, tenofovir disoproxil fumerate) and complex prevention of vertical transmission cases including failure of maternal viral suppression.
The PVC meets via Teams every first Thursday of the month. This activity is coordinated by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and supported by members of the PentaTr@ining network. For further information, please contact the International Perinatal Virtual Clinic.
*The table is intended for use in conjunction with detailed antiretroviral drug information available from EMA and FDA websites and is aimed at practitioners experienced in paediatric HIV care. Its aim is to provide a practical guide to prescribing in the clinic. Please note that drug information rapidly changes and it is ultimately the responsibility of the treating clinician to check validity of information provided before prescribing.