Effect of antiretrovirals on renal function in people taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis^*

Objective: to evaluate the effect of antiretrovirals on renal function in individuals receiving HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Method: a descriptive, longitudinal survey design was used in a retrospective cohort study for 48 weeks. The sample consisted of 203 participants. Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were analyzed. Absolute and relative frequencies, mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values, Fisher’s exact test, and Friedman test were used, with a significance level of <5%.

Results: the participants were predominantly cisgender men (86.2%), white (69.1%), highly educated (76.7%), and had a mean age of 34 years. The presence of markers of renal damage was low. Proteinuria increased until the 12th week (2.6%), maintaining a small variation until the 48th week. The decline in estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) ≥25% from baseline was 4.4%, 3%, 4.4%, and 3% at weeks 12, 24, 36, and 48, respectively. There was no significant association between eGFR decline ≥25% and the presence of any of the markers of renal damage.

Conclusion: the low incidence of events characterizing renal dysfunction, such as eGFR decline ≥25% and the presence of mild and isolated events of proteinuria, glycosuria, uricosuria, and cylindruria, was confirmed at 48 weeks of follow-up.

Descriptors:
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Tenofovir; Kidney Diseases; Physiologic Monitoring; Glomerular Filtration Rate

Highlights:

(1) Few studies on renal dysfunction in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis users. (2) Low incidence of renal dysfunction in PrEP users during 48 weeks. (3) Low incidence of markers of renal damage during 48 weeks of follow-up. (4) Nurses’ clinical knowledge for monitoring renal function is essential.