Abstract:
Background: Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) is the most widely used Anti-
Retroviral Therapy (ART) drug due to its potency, safety profile and WHO
recommendation. TDF causes proximal tubular renal dysfunction (PTRD) leading to
Fanconi syndrome, acute kidney injury and chronic kidney damage. Modest rates of
about 2-4% of TDF related toxicity based on estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate
(GFR) have been described; while TDF induced PTRD has been reported to be 22%.
Beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) in urine has been validated as a highly sensitive/specific
marker for tubular proteinuria. TDF toxicity is more likely among African patients, it
is reversible and TDF may be renal dosed in patients with dysfunction.
Objectives: To assess proximal tubular renal dysfunction, global renal function and
their determinants among patients on TDF versus TDF sparing regimen.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study among HIV infected patients attending
Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) program. The primary
outcome of interest in this study was PTRD while the secondary outcome of interest
was estimated GFR. PTRD was defined as any two of beta 2 microglobulin in urine,
metabolic acidosis, normoglycemic glucosuria and fractional excretion of phosphate.
Student t test, chi square, likelihood ratio and their non-parametric equivalents were
used to test for statistical significance. Univariate and Multivariate logistic regression
analysis was carried out.
Results: A total of 516 participants were included in the final analysis, 261 on TDF
while 255 were on non-TDF based regimens. The mean (SD) age of all participants
was 41.5 (12.6) years with majority being female (60.3%). The proportion of PTRD
was 10.0% versus 3.1% in the TDF compared to TDF-sparing group (P<0.001). Mean
estimated GFR was 112.8 (21.5) vs 109.7 (21.9) ml/min/1.73mm3 (P=0.20) for the
TDF compared to TDF-sparing group. TDF users were more likely to have PTRD
compared to those not using TDF, adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 3.0, 95% CI 1.12 to
7.75. Hypophosphatemia was found to have a specificity of 88.8% and a low
sensitivity of 23.5% in detecting proximal tubulopathy.
Conclusion: There was significant tubulopathy in HIV patients on TDF compared to
TDF-sparing group without significant difference in estimated GFR. The clinical
significance of these findings may not be clear in the short term. Serum phosphate
levels are not useful as a proxy for detecting tubular dysfunction.