Once-daily antiretroviral therapy among treatment-experienced Muslim patients fasting for the month of Ramadan
Yakasai, A.M.; Muhammad, H.; Babashani, M.; Jumare, J.; Abdulmumini, M.; Habib, A.G.
Tropical Doctor 41(4): 233-235
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1758-1133 PMID: 21914677 DOI: 10.1258/td.2011.110130Document Number: 225454
Many countries with a considerable burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Africa and Asia also have a substantial Muslim population. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has led to reductions in HIV morbidity and mortality in those areas. However, for ART to remain durably effective its provision should be adapted to local and religious customary practices such as Ramadan fasting. The fasting is often observed by Muslims with HIV infection and ART might be compromised by sub-optimal adherence during fasting as it precludes the ingestion of oral substances during the daytime and is often associated with an alteration of meals/sleeping patterns. We studied once-daily compared to twice-daily dosed ritonovir boosted lopinavir with fixed-dose tenofovir-emtricitabine once-daily among 17 heavily treatment-experienced stable FT patients in Nigeria. No changes in adherence, diarrhoea, CD4 cell counts, viral load, haematocrit, kidney, liver and lipid tests were observed. Effectiveness, safety and tolerability appeared unaffected by the changes.