COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THREE ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS ON LIVER ENZYMES (ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE, ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE AND ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE)

George Adieboye Oforibika* and Augustine Amadikwa Uwakwe

ABSTRACT

This study comparatively evaluate the effects of nevirapine (nevran), lamivudine and zidovudine on alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities of normal albino rats. A total of 63 albino rats were randomly divided into 5 groups labelled A, B, C, D and E and kept in a well ventilated room. Group A served as control and these rats were treated with distilled water. Rats in the groups B, C, D and E were treated with 4 different doses of the drugs (0.7, 1.4, 2.1 and 2.8mg/Kgbw) respectively. The drugs were administered once daily for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks consecutively. Animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last treatment. Blood samples were collected into heparinized sample bottles for analysis. Results obtained revealed that AST levels were highest in Nevran at week 3 of group B (178.00±1.15 IU/L) when compared to the control (122.6±8.45IU/L). Significant differences (p<0.05) existed among the 3 drugs at group B of week 1 and there was no significant differences between any at group E of week 5. Lamivudine had the highest activity for ALT at group D of week 3(80.00±1.15IU/L) as compared to the control (44.67±2.60IU/L). Nevran and zidovudine were significantly different with the other drugs at group B of week 1 and group E of week 5. Mean ALP activity was greatest in Lamivudine at group C of week 1 (58.20±0.06IU/L) when compared to the control (46.73±3.54IU/L). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between any drug at group B of week1 while at group E of week5 Lamivudine was significantly different (p<0.05) with the other drugs. Treatment of HIV/AIDS with ARVs could result to liver damage by hepatocellular injury or by necrosis of the liver due to prolonged treatment.

Keywords: Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), albino rats, HIV/AIDS, hepatocellular injury, liver.