Kidney Disease in HIV Infected Children on HAART in Nigeria

In Nigeria, HIV/AIDS contributes to leading causes of morbidity and mortality and children living with HIV on HAART tend to live longer therefore, they are more likely to develop kidney diseases.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of kidney diseases in HIV-infected children and identify potential risk factors with a specific focus on antiretroviral regimens.

A cross-sectional study conducted in a cohort of 121 consecutive children with HIV/AIDS on HAART. Serum creatinine level was determined and the estimated GFR was calculated using modified Schwartz formula. Kidney disease was defined as eGFR <90 mL/min/1.73 m2 and or dipstick proteinuria ≥1+.

This study included 65 (53.7%) females and 56 (46.3%) males with mean age of 10.8 ± 4.3 years. The children were all on antiretroviral medication. Proteinuria was observed in 7 (5.8%) of the participants, 6 (5.0%) had mild reduction of eGFR, and 1 (0.8%) each had moderately and severely reduced eGFR. A statistically significant association was observed between renal disease and high viral load, as well as the use of an abacavir or tenofovir-based regimen.

These findings emphasize the importance of regular kidney function monitoring and tailored antiretroviral therapy selection in the management of HIV-infected children.