Kidney Disease in HIV Infected Children on HAART in Nigeria

Background: 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.Objective: 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.Methods: 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+.Results: 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.Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of regular kidney function monitoring and tailored antiretroviral therapy selection in the management of HIV-infected children.