African Journal of Biochemistry Research Vol. 1 (6), 090-094, November 2007          
ISSN 1996-0778 © 2007 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Lavudine therapy and hepatotoxicity as seen in a Nigerian tertiary antiretroviral treatment centre

Akande A.A¹*, Olaosebikan O.F¹, Jimoh A.K¹, Abdulazeez¹, Olawumi H.O²

¹Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1459, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
²Department of Hematology and Blood transfusion Services, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1459, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
 

 *Corresponding author. E-mail: yinkaakande@yahoo.com.

Accepted 28 September, 2007

Abstract

Hepatic toxicity is a common complication of anti-retroviral treatment in HIV patients, usually indicated or heralded by the elevation of liver transaminases measured in the blood. There had been reported evidence of hepatic toxicity in all the three currently approved classes of anti-retroviral drugs. However, its severity in some cases may warrant stoppage of the treatment. This study assessed the hepato-toxicity among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy with lavudine in a drug treatment centre in Nigeria. Liver function test (LFT) results of patients treated with lavudine (lamivudne, stavudine and nevirapine) antiretroviral drug was collated and analyzed initially as baseline data and later over a period of three months after treatment with lavudine for liver enzymes assessment. Sixty three (63) subjects in all were analyzed, 28 males and 35 females (M: F = 0.8:1). The results showed that there was a non-significant (p>0.45) decrease in the serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase of the pretreatment LFT compared with the LFT after three months of treatment with lavudine. The levels of serum total protein and albumin showed a concomitant but non-significant (p>0.20) decrease over the same period. Antiretroviral treatment with lavudine may be associated with hepatic enzymes induction but not toxicity at least in the short run, however hepatic function test should be monitored  every month for the first three months after starting a new drug regimen and followed by once in six month subsequently for a year.

Key words:  Lavudine, hepatotoxicity, treatment centre, HIV /AIDS patient.