Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Induced Hematological and Dermatological Adverse Drug Reactions in People Living with HIV in India

Introduction: In India, HIV patients are at a high risk of developing hematological and dermatological adverse drug reactions (ADRs) leading to financial burden. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on hematological and dermatological ADRs in a South Indian teaching hospital from October 2011 to October 2012. The definition of ADRs established by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used to assess the causality. Predictability of ADRs was assessed by Micromedex database. Preventability of ADRs was assessed using the Schumock and Thornton criteria. Results: A total of 174 HIV patients were enrolled [133 (76.4%) males and 41 (23.6%) females], who reported 99 ADRs to HAART. Of the total ADRs, 70 (70.7%) were reported in males and 29 (29.3%) in females, indicating significantly higher reporting of ADRs in males. 67 of the 99 ADRs were hematological, while the remaining 32 were dermatological. A high number of hematological [40 (59.6%)] and dermatological [15 (46.8%)] ADRs were reported for zidovudine + lamivudine + nevirapine-based HAART regimen. In most of the reported ADRs, the suspected drug was withdrawn. The reported hematological ADRs were as follows: 1) anemia with zidovudine [35 (52.2%)]; 2) pancytopenia with zidovudine [20 (29.9%)]; 3) neutropenia with lamivudine; and 4) leucopenia, bicytopenia, and eosinophilia with zidovudine. Dermatological ADRs were maculopapular rash [7 (21.8%)] with nevirapine-, tenofovir + emtricitabine + efavirenz. Conclusion: Hematological ADRs was higher than that of dermatological ADRs. Physicians must focus on routine monitoring of all possible risk factors in PLW-HIV for early prevention of hematological and dermatological ADRs to HAART.