Renal impact of sub acute lamivudine-artesunate treatment in wistar rats

Abstract

Background and objectives: Lamivudine and artesunate are life saving drugs in the treatment of HIV/HBV and malaria respectively, and available data shows artesunate having anti-tumour properties. The concurrent administration of both drugs presents important safety concerns. This study investigated possible effects of lamivudine-artesunate co-administration on renal function and histology in wistar rats.

Method: Four groups of rats (n=5) were used in the study with one group as control. Two groups received lamivudine at 20 mgkg^-1, with another receiving artesunate at 10 mgkg^-1. Artesunate was added to one of the lamivudine groups. While lamivudine treatment was for three weeks, artesunate was introduced only in the last week of the study alone, or in combination with lamivudine. At termination, animals were humanely killed and kidneys harvested, weighed and subjected to H and E stain and observation. Serum urea and electrolytes were also determined.

Results: Serum biomarkers and kidney weights did not differ significantly (p>0.05). Various histological changes were observed in the treated groups although these didn’t directly correlate the biomarkers determined.

Conclusion: The concurrent use of lamivudine and artesunate appears to be safe within the dose levels used. However caution may be needful when repeated or long term exposure is required.

Keywords: artesunate, lamivudine, HIV, HBV, malaria, concurrent drug therapy