V prospective study of adverse events to antiretroviral therapy in III V- infected adults in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (IIAART); the-current standard of antiretroviral therapy for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (11IV) infected persons, has been documented to drastically reduce the number of cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). However, adverse events are a challenge to the use of 11AART. This study intends to determine the nature and incidence of suspected adverse events to prescribed antiretroviral drugs in treatment centers in Ekiti State. Method. One hundred and twenty participants were enrolled and followed up over a period of six months. At each clinic visit, there was an administration of a detailed interviewer questionnaire that was completed by the attending pharmacist together with the participant. The form is designed to obtain information on the demographics of the patients, WHO clinical stage of their IIIV infection, IIAART regimen for the patients, and suspected adverse events associated with the antiretroviral drugs used by the patients. Results: Tenolbvir/Lamivudinc/Efavirenz (72.5%), Zidovudine/Lamivudinc/Nevirapine (16.7%), Zidovudine/Lamivudine/Efavirenz (0.7%), Tenolbvir/ Lamivudine/Nevirapine (3.3%), and Abacavir/ Lamivudine/Ncvirapine (0.8%) were the IIAART regimens prescribed to the patients. About half (57%) of the participants reported clinical adverse events: 92% of which were reported within two weeks of IIAART initiation. Most of the reported adverse events were nausea (14.5%), abdominal discomfort (8.2%), and insomnia (7.5%). A few (6%) of those who reported adverse events required regimen switch or drug substitution. Conclusions: Antiretroviral drugs exposure often presents with adverse events, an observation similar to other studies. Most of the clinical adverse events were not severe or life threatening.