The Impact of in Utero and Breastfeeding Exposure to Tenofovir on Renal Function in HIV-exposed Uninfected Children in Cameroon: The PREVENT-IT Study

There is a growing use of Tenofovir (TDF) in sub-Saharan Africa with the use of Option B+ for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission. TDF has been associated to renal function abnormalities both in macaques and HIV-infected adults and infants. Therefore concerns have been raised about its renal safety in exposed infants of women on Option B+. Data for HEU is sparse and routine measures of renal function (creatinine, proteinuria), may not be appropriate to detect TDF-associated renal injury early. The goal of our study is to assess whether TDF use in pregnancy and breastfeeding affects the function of the kidney function of the child. Pregnant women who consent during their first antenatal consultation to take antiretroviral drugs for PMTCT after testing positive, will be enrolled and followed till birth, for adherence using HPLC. Their terms infants who are HIV negative by DNA PCR at 6 weeks (HEU), will have urine collected at 1.5, 3, 6, 9 months. Using appropriate and more sensitive markers (RBP4, KIM1, NAG, β2M), proximal tubular function will be assessed in 159 HEU infants and same number of controls. Nutritional status and drug history data will be collected for both mother and child. RBP, KIM1, β2M will be measured using XMAP assay while ELISA will be used for NAG according to manufacturer recommendations. Creatinine, phosphates and urinary tract infection will be measured using standard methods. Values of these markers will be compared between the 2 groups. Results will confirm/infirm renal safety of TDF in pregnancy, improve prevention of long term renal injury through early detection, contribute to promote development of routine rapid diagnostic tests for acute renal tubular injury