Human Immunodeficiency Virus-positive Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Continue to Have a Decline in Renal Function Irrespective of Tenofovir Usage.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients may undergo renal damage due to disease or nephrotoxic drugs. Tenofovir has been associated with the development of renal impairment. The aim of this study was to compare trends in creatinine clearance (CrCl) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and to compare the same between patients on tenofovir- and nontenofovir-based regimens.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted. We followed 244 patients for 2 years. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters of the patients were recorded at baseline, 1 year of therapy, and 2 years of therapy. The data were analyzed using dividing patients into tenofovir- and nontenofovir-based groups. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test, paired and unpaired t-tests, and Fisher's exact test.

Results: The mean blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine in both groups were comparable at the start of the therapy. The decline in CrCl and eGFR in all patients on HAART for 2 years was statistically significant, irrespective of tenofovir usage. The mean decrease in eGFR in the tenofovir group was 12.4 mL/min/1.73 m² and in the nontenofovir group, 9 mL/min/1.73 m², though the differences between eGFR and CrCl were not significant between the two groups at any point.

Conclusion: Even though previous studies have suggested that HAART usage can slow the decline in kidney function in people living with HIV, patients who receive HAART still show a statistically significant decline in renal function parameters, akin to the observations of other such studies in low-resource settings.