Abstract
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is considered toxic and has other life-threatening side effects. Our aim was to evaluate the haematotoxic effects of lamivudine, zidovudine, and nevirapine fixed-dose combinations in Albino Wistar rats. Fifty (50) three (3) months old male Albino Wistar rats weighing between 200 and 250 g were randomly assigned to five (5) groups (A, B, C, D, and E). Group A served as control. Two (2 mLs) of venous blood was aseptically collected on Days 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 of treatment. Red blood cell (RBC) mean value recorded statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in groups B and C when compared with the control group on Day 5. However, there was a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.05) in RBC, haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), and some red cell indices on Day 10. In addition there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in all the parameters evaluated when the test group was compared with the control on Day 25. Furthermore, there was a time-related statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in the two major blood cells—RBC and platelet counts. From the result of this present study, it can be concluded that HAART when administered in fixed-dose combinations have no subacute haematotoxic effects.
Highlights
Antiretroviral drugs are medication for treatment of infection by retroviruses, primarily human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Total white blood cell (WBC) count showed statistically significant decrease (P < 0.01) in group B when compared with the control group
Red blood cell (RBC) and mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) mean values revealed dose dependent statistically significant decrease (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05), respectively, in the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) when groups B, C, D, and E were compared on Day 5 (Table 1)
Summary
Antiretroviral drugs are medication for treatment of infection by retroviruses, primarily human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) When several such drugs, typically three or four, are taken in combination, the approach is known as highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART. Current guidelines for treatment of human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) infection recommend the combination of three antiretroviral agents, two reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) plus one protease inhibitor, or the association of three RTIs [1, 3]. These regimens of HAART have dramatically reduced the morbidity and mortality of HIV infection [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
