Life surviving HIV drugs linked to kidney failure
HIV patients on antiretroviral drug tenofovir disoproxilfumarate are at risk of developing kidney failure after a prolonged use of the drug.
A report of the clinical journal of HIV/AIDS study published recently indicates that patients on the widely used drug for HIV/AIDS management made available worldwide in 2001 developed, nephrotoxicity: which is defined as rapid deterioration in the kidney function due to toxic effect of medications and chemicals.
Records from Kenyatta National Hospital have shown that 1,852 HIV positive patients at the hospital admitted into the TDF –based antiretroviral therapy between the January 2009- December 2012, 177 developed nephrotoxicity linked to side effects of tenofovir.
Those who have used the drug for two had more than 25 per cent chance of developing nephrotoxicity and this risk increased by 25 per cent more in three and a half years.
Males and older patients of 50 years and above are at a higher risk of a longer recovery form kidney poisoning.
“When appearance of nephrotoxicity is detected early it improves due to discontinuation of the tdf drug. late detection is reported to lead to irreversible tubule interstitial damage,“ the study indicates
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor and is currently recommended by the World Health Organization as a first-line agent for the treatment of HIV infection.
