Metabolic and anthropometric changes one year after switching from didanosine/stavudine to tenofovir in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Nucleoside analogues such as Didanosine and Stavudine are known to cause metabolic and body habitus changes during antiretroviral therapy. The most frequently observed are lactic acidosis, hypercholesterinaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and lipodystrophy. METHODS: Over one year we monitored a cohort of 43 patients who switched from either Stavudine, Didanosine or the combination of both to Tenofovir. A group of 11 patients was kept on their original regimen and acted as control group. Blood samples were taken every 3 months from baseline, anthropometric measurements were performed at baseline, after 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: During observation the levels of lactic acid and cholesterol decreased significantly in the switch group while virologic and immunologic efficacy remained stable. Serum creatinine levels rose significantly in patients switched to Tenofovir, but remained within physiological limits. The mean skin fold thickness increased significantly by 1.8 mm in the switch group after 6 months (p < or =0.001 - p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: These results implicate an improvement of lipid profiles, serum lactate and lipodystrophy in HIV-positive patients after switch to Tenofovir. As a moderate increase in serum creatinine levels was observed, the renal function of patients on a Tenofovir-based regimen should be monitored closely.