Children

Tenofovir (Viread) is only approved for use in adults over 18 years of age . A small study of 18 children with substantial treatment experience found that tenofovir-containing antiretroviral treatment regimens brought about modest declines in viral loads and increases in CD4 cell counts. However, a third of the children needed to stop tenofovir after experiencing falls in bone density.1 This was seen in previous studies of infant monkeys.2

In contrast, a small study of HIV-infected children switching from an effective d4T (stavudine, Zerit)-containing regimen to one containing tenofovir found no effect on the bone.3 Further studies are required to determine whether reduced bone density is related to the children’s state of health.

References

  1. Hazra R et al. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and an optimized background regimen of antiretroviral agents as salvage therapy for pediatric HIV infection. Pediatrics 116: e846-e854, 2005
  2. Tarantal AF et al. Administration of 9-[2-(R)-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]adenine (PMPA) to gravid and infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): safety and efficacy studies. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 20: 323-333, 1999
  3. Giacomet V et al. A 12-month treatment with tenofovir does not impair bone mineral accrual in HIV-infected children. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 40: 448-450, 2005
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