World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

INCIDENCE AND ANALYSIS OF ZIDOVUDINE INDUCED ANAEMIA IN HIV INFECTED PATIENTS IN WESTERN INDIA.

Rajeev R. Shah,* Apoorwa Gupta, Anju Bhatt, Naziya Malek, G. Bhatmbare and Minu Patel

ABSTRACT

Background: Zidovudine (AZT) a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor is the first line antiretroviral regimen in India, and was the first break through in AIDS therapy in 1990. It is known to be associated with life threatening toxicity like anaemia. Objective: The study had been designed to determine the prevalence of AZT induced anaemia in HIV infected patients initiated on AZT containing antiretroviral therapy regimen in western India. Methods: This retrospective study was carried out in ART Centres, of western India (Gujarat). HIV infected patients registered at ART Centres were treated according to guideline of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).1269 patients with haemoglobin (Hb) >8 g/dl were prescribed AZT based antiretroviral therapy regimens. Patients who developed anaemia (<8g/dl) due to other causes of anaemia were excluded from the study. Even attempt had been made to correlate of baseline characteristic (age, gender, starting haemoglobin level, patients weight, CD4 count and WHO clinical stages) with risk of developing anaemia. Results: One hundred eighty one (14.2%) patients on AZT regimen developed anaemia(<8 g/dl). Out of this 78 patients(6.15%) developed sever anaemia (<6.5 g/dl). Females were more prone to develop anaemia. No correlation had been found between development of anaemia and age, weight, WHO clinical stage and CD4 counts. Interpretation & conclusion: High incidence of AZT induced anaemia were found in the TB/HIV co-infections, BMI < 18 kg/m2 and MCV <80 fL in the present study. In these risk group patients regular monitoring of Hb should be carried out in such patients, particularly even in women on AZT based antiretroviral regimens.

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