ARV can cause liver damage

05 May 2016 - 02:00 By KATHARINE CHILD

Doctors in Cape Town have described an uncommon yet sometimes fatal effect of a common antiretroviral.About 100 cases of liver damage caused by the ARV Efavirenz have been cited - with some patients dying from complications of the liver damage caused by the drug.This represents a fraction of the more than 250,000 people on ARVs in Western Cape.About 3.2million South Africans receive ARVs, with the majority taking a triple cocktail or drugs that include Efavirenz.ARVs have increased the average life expectancy in South Africa by 10 years.Liver damage associated with ARVs is not a common side effect but, for a handful of young - often female - patients, Efavirenz can cause a rare pattern of liver damage.Data suggests that women may be more at risk. However, further data is required to confirm this.Specialists at the University of Cape Town have written a research letter in the journal AIDS describing their observation, which has not been experienced in other countries, including the US, where the drug was tested for safety and efficacy.According to the specialists, patients with a higher CD4 count and younger people - often women - are more likely to suffer this side effect.Patients who experience ongoing unusual symptoms - persistent nausea, tummy discomfort - when they have been using the drug for a few months should be evaluated for evidence of liver injury and they should stop taking the drug, the specialists advised...

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