Incidence and predictors of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-induced renal impairment in HIV infected Nigerian patients.

INTRODUCTION: The use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in the treatment of HIV infection has been associated with renal dysfunction. In Nigeria, data on the incidence and risk factors of TDF nephrotoxicity is sparse. We determined the cumulative incidence of and risk factors for TDF-induced renal impairment in HIV-infected individuals accessing care at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis included patients aged ≥16 years that initiated ART between January 2008 and December 2011. Renal impairment, defined as glomerular filtration rate GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 sqm using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation was assessed at baseline and at 48 weeks on ART. Logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with incident renal impairment. RESULTS: The mean age was 39±9 years, and 67.1% were female. The cumulative incidence of renal impairment among the TDF-exposed and TDF-unexposed groups was 4.6% and 2.3% respectively (p<0.001). TDF exposure was significantly associated with renal impairment [OR=2.0, 95%CI=(1.48-2.89), p<0.001] in bivariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, older age (aOR=1.06, 95%CI=(1.05-1.08), p<0.001), TDF exposure [aOR=1.85, 95%CI=(1.31-2.60), p<0.001] and co-morbidities [aOR=2.71, 95%CI=(1.72-4.25), p<0.001] were significantly associated with renal impairment. CONCLUSION: TDF exposure, aging and comorbidities were predictors of renal toxicity among HIV positive patients. Regular monitoring of renal function in such high-risk individuals is recommended.

Anti-seizure activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Solanum nigrum linn (solanaceae) in experimental animals.

BACKGROUND: Solanum nigrum is claimed in traditional medical practice, to be useful in the treatment of epilepsy in some parts of Nigeria. OBJECTIVES: To study the anti-convulsant property of the aqueous extract of the leaves of S. nigrum in chicks, mice and rats. METHOD: Aqueous extracts were administered intraperitoneally, at a pre-treatment time of 30 minutes, at graded doses and animals were challenged with different types of proconvulsants. RESULTS: The aqueous leaf extract produced a significantly (P<0.05) dose dependent protection against electrically-induced seizure in chicks and rats, pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure in mice and rats and picrotoxin-induced seizure in mice and rats. The anti-seizure property of the extract was potentiated by amphetamine. CONCLUSION: The result obtained in this study suggests that the leaves of this plant may possess anti-convulsant property in chicks, mice and rats.