Effect of tenofovor diproxil fumarate on renal function and urinalysis abnormalities in HIV-infected Cameroonian adults

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of HIV-associated kidney diseases is as high as 53.3%. Combined antiretroviral treatment (cART), especially tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), is known to be nephrotoxic. We undertook this cross-sectional study conducted in 2015 at the Regional Hospital Limbe in the Southwest Region of Cameroon to determine the prevalence of renal dysfunction and its correlates among treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients on TDF and treatment-naïve patients. In April 2016, a follow-up was performed on those who had been treatment-naïve and were started on cART after enrolment in the study. We compared 119 patients on TDF-containing regimens with 47 treatment-naïve patients. Proteinuria was significantly more prevalent, and creatinine was significantly higher among treatment-naïve patients than among those on treatment (52.2% versus 26.1%; P = 0.003 and P = 0.009, respectively). The proportion of patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/minute was significantly higher among treatment-naïve patients than among those on TDF treatment (40.4% versus 24.4%; P = 0.041). Treatment-naïve patients displayed an improvement in creatinine levels and eGFR after 6 months of treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the impact of TDF on renal parameters in Cameroon. TDF appears to be safe and does not appear to be a significant cause of renal impairment. However, renal parameters should be monitored regularly, as recommended by the guidelines.