Hematologic Toxicity of Antiretroviral Drug, Zidolam (zidovudine and lamivudine) in Adult Wistar Rats

摘要

Objective: Zidolam is an highly active antiretroviral combination therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV infection. Efforts in this study intend to buttress evidence of hemato-toxicity associated with administration of HAARTs by using Zidolam. Material & Methods: 30 albino rats with body weight (bwt) of 150 - 230 gm were used for the 2-phase study. Solution of the drug in sterile water was administered via oral cannula to the 2 groups of 10 rats (5 males and 5 females) each at daily dose of 1.29mg/100gm bwt respectively for 21 days during phase I. Phase II was a recovery study involving 10 rats (5 males and 5 females) exposed to dose regimen as in phase I, and sacrificed after 21-days withdrawal of treatment. The control group of 10 animals (5 males and 5 females) was given sterile water ad-libitum. Blood samples were collected by cardio-puncture from the rats for hematology at the end of each phase. Results: Zidolam caused significant reduction (P< 0.05) in the hematological parameters of the animals. Discontinuation of the drug use caused gradual restoration of the parameters in the recovery group. Conclusion: The results suggested that Zidolam could induce anemia and leucopenia in the treated animals. This supports the reason it is used with caution in anemic and leucopenic patients with HIV infection and perhaps reason for pre-hematological screening before treatment with zidolam.