Inês Hormigo, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Unidade Local de Saúde de São José; Centro Clínico Académico de Lisboa; Lisbon, Portugal
Tiago Milheiro Silva, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Unidade Local de Saúde de São José; Centro Clínico Académico de Lisboa; Lisbon, Portugal
Cristina Guerreiro, Centro Clínico Académico de Lisboa; Maternidade Alfredo da Costa, Unidade Local de Saúde de São José; Lisbon, Portugal
Introduction: The efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has changed HIV infection into a chronic illness. Nonetheless, despite mother-to-child transmission having drastically diminished since the beginning of the pandemic and the recognized benefits of maternal milk, many national guidelines continue to recommend against breastfeeding of infants born to women living with HIV (WLHIV). Case report: We present the case of a mother with HIV-1 diagnosis 4 years prior to pregnancy, undetectable viral loads since starting ART, and excellent adherence to both medical appointments and therapy. During the pregnancy of her first child, manifests the desire to breastfeed. We detail the process of decision and follow-up during the breastfeeding period until transmission was excluded. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first documented cases in Portugal of supported and monitored breastfeeding by a WLHIV. We highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary, accessible, and personalized approach, especially in the absence of updated national guidelines.
Keywords: Breastfeeding. HIV. Prevention. Vertical transmission.
