Effects on mitochondria and thymus of the switch from stavudine to tenofovir in HIV-infected children

Drug-associated dysfunction of mitochondria (mt) is believed to play a role in the aetiology of the various adverse symptoms that occur in HIV-infected patients treated with the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Switching to drugs with less mt toxicity may be of benefit in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy containing stavudine (d4T), but the efficacy and the safety of this strategy in paediatric population is unknown. We have analysed the effect of the switch from d4T to tenofovir (TDF), paying particular attention to the maintenance of the immunovirological status and lipid profile.