Renal mitochondrial toxicity: effects of thymidine analogues and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in African people with HIV

We investigated the contributions of thymidine analogue and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) antiretroviral therapy on renal mitochondrial toxicity in Ghanaian people with HIV (PWH). Similar levels of renal biochemical and mitochondrial dysfunction were seen, and there was no increased risk in PWH who had sequenced from thymidine analogue to TDF. However, mild renal impairment was associated with mitochondrial DNA damage in TDF but not thymidine analogue-treated PWH. These data support the continued use of TDF in resource-limited settings.