Abstract
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has increased the life expectancy of HIV positive individuals. However, an increase in the incidence of liver and kidney diseases among patients receiving HAART has been noted. No studies have demonstrated the effect of concomitant alcohol and HAART intake on the histomorphometry of the liver and kidneys. This study investigated the effects of co-administration of alcohol and Atripla on the histomorphometry of the liver and kidneys of adult male Sprague Dawley rats. Findings from this study revealed hypertrophy of the hepatocytes in zone III, increases in hepatocyte nuclear size in zone I and zone III and vacuolization of cytoplasm in treatment groups. In the kidneys, increase in size of the renal corpuscle and the glomerular tuft, reduction in size of the epithelial cells in the proximal and distal convoluted tubules was observed in treatment groups. In conclusion, treatment with Atripla alone or Atripla with alcohol resulted into liver and kidney injury.
M.Tech. (Biomedical Technology)