Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Published on: May 9, 2025
Toxicities associated with dual nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor regimens in HIV-infected children
Russell B Van Dyke1, Lu Wang, Paige L Williams
1Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. vandyke@tulane.edu
Insights
In children, zidovudine (ZDV)-containing HIV therapies show fewer clinical toxicities than stavudine (d4T)-based regimens. Other combinations like d4T/3TC, d4T/ddI, and ddI/3TC have similar toxicity profiles suitable for second-line treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Toxicology
Background:
- Nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are a cornerstone of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy.
- The specific toxicities of NRTI combinations in pediatric populations are not fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the relative toxicities of five common NRTI pairs in children with vertically acquired HIV infection.
- To inform optimal NRTI selection for first- and second-line antiretroviral therapy in children.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 2233 children (age ≤13 years) with vertically acquired HIV infection receiving at least two NRTIs was analyzed.
- Incidence rates of clinical and laboratory toxicities were estimated for zidovudine (ZDV)/lamivudine (3TC), ZDV/didanosine (ddI), stavudine (d4T)/3TC, d4T/ddI, and ddI/3TC regimens.
- Time to first toxicity was compared between NRTI pairs using adjusted hazard ratios.
Main Results:
- Regimens containing ZDV demonstrated significantly lower rates of clinical toxicities compared to those with d4T (aHR, 0.49; P = .02).
- Regimens containing ddI showed significantly lower rates of laboratory toxicities than those with 3TC (aHR, 0.78; P = .04).
- ZDV/3TC had fewer clinical toxicities than d4T/ddI and ddI/3TC, while ZDV/ddI showed fewer clinical toxicities than d4T/3TC.
Conclusions:
- ZDV-based NRTI regimens are associated with less toxicity in children compared to d4T-based regimens, supporting their use in first-line therapy.
- The NRTI combinations d4T/3TC, d4T/ddI, and ddI/3TC exhibit comparable toxicity profiles and are suitable for second-line treatment regimens.
Background:
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy includes a backbone of nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Toxicities associated with NRTIs are not fully defined in children.
Methods:
We studied 2233 children < or =13 years of age who were perinatally infected with HIV and were receiving > or =2 NRTIs, to determine the relative toxicities of the 5 most common NRTI pairs: zidovudine (ZDV)/lamivudine (3TC), ZDV/didanosine (ddI), stavudine (d4T)/3TC, d4T/ddI, and ddI/3TC. Incidence rates for clinical and laboratory toxicities were estimated, and NRTI pairs were compared with regard to the time to the first toxicity.
Results:
The most common clinical toxicities noted were hepatitis, peripheral neuropathy, lipodystrophy/lipoatrophy, and pancreatitis, whereas the most common laboratory toxicities were an elevated anion gap, an increased total amylase level, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Overall, regimens containing ZDV were associated with a significantly lower rate of clinical toxicities than were those containing d4T (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.49; P = .02) ); regimens containing ddI were associated with a significantly lower rate of laboratory toxicities than were those containing 3TC (adjusted HR, 0.78; P = .04). ZDV/3TC was associated with a lower rate of clinical toxicities than were d4T/ddI and ddI/3TC and with a higher rate of laboratory toxicities than was ZDV/ddI. ZDV/ddI was associated with a lower rate of clinical toxicities than was d4T/3TC.
Conclusions:
In children, regimens containing ZDV have less toxicity than do those containing d4T, thereby supporting their use in first-line regimens. D4T/3TC, d4T/ddI, and ddI/3TC have similar toxicity rates and are appropriate for second-line therapy.
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