Effect of Different Doses of Antiretroviral Drugs on Body Weight of Experimental Animals

Anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs are medications used for the treatment of diseases caused by retroviruses, primarily HIV. HIV/AIDS is a condition in human in which the immune system starts to fail, resulting to life threatening opportunistic infections. This study investigated the effect of first and second line fixed-dose combination (FDC) antiretroviral drugs on body weight of experimental animals. Thirty-five (35) male Wistar rats (Raths novegicus) were divided into seven (7) experimental groups (A, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1 and D2). Group A received normal rat pellet and clean water. Group B1 received 17.14 mg/kgbwt/24h of fixed-dose EFV/3TC/TDF as first line regimen for 15 days, while Group B2 received same regimen for 30 days. Group C1 received 6.43 mg/kgbwt/12h of fixed-dose 3TC/ZDVt3.57 mg/kgbwt/12h of LPV/r as second line regimen for fifteen (15) days, while Group C2 received same regimen for 30 days. Group D1 received first line regime for 30 days then switched to second line regimen for 15 days (a total of 45 days), while Group D2 received first line regime for 30 days, then switched to second line regimen for another 30 days (a total of 60 days). First and second line regimens showed significant change (P<0.05) in serum level of hepatic parameters observed in 15, 30 and 45 days, while animals treated for 60 days was insignificant (P>0.05) in all the parameters compared to control. This study demonstrated that first and second line regimen did not expose the animals to untoward consequences of severe drug effect, but rather there was a significant (p< 0.05) weight gain which may rule out toxic effects of the regimens on long term repeated dosage. Thus, the use of these regimens in the management and treatment of HIV/AIDS should be encouraged while hepatic and cardiac functions of the recipients should be monitored First and second line.