Amit Nayak, Mandavi Singh and Anand Mishra
ABSTRACT
Introduction – Zidovudine is an NRTI approved by FDA for treatment of HIV. It is used as one of the component of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to prevent maternal to child transmission (MTCT).But its effect on fetal kidney is yet to be ascertained.
Materials and methods – Pregnant albino mice was given zidovudine in the dose of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg, 50mg/kg by oral gavage from 6th -15th day of gestation and control mice was fed distilled water during the same period. On 17th day maternal blood was collected for renal function test by retro orbital vein puncture. On 18th day the mice was sacrificed and fetuses were taken out .The kidney of foetuses were dissected, fixed with formalin, processed and stained with H&E for micromorphological study.
Results- The treated fetal kidney shows decreased glomerular tufts hyalinised and reduced tubules and ultimately loss of architechture of renal parenchyme in a dose related manner. The serum urea was increased and hyponatremis, hypokalemia, hypochloridemia was observed in dams depicting toxic effect of this drug on kidney of the mice.
Conclusion- Zidovudine causes nephrotoxicity in both mother and fetus if given prenatally to mice and so should be used with care during pregnancy.