Abstract:
The sub-Saharan African region is home to the greatest burden of Human
Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired lmmunodenciency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
Appropriate management of infectious diseases is the most cost effective intervention to
reduce the burden of disease. Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART) is the
mainstay for inhibiting the multiplication of the causative agent and improving quality oflife
of the victims. There is some doubt in the region regarding the safety of the drugs in the anti
AIDS pharmacy. Local studies on the safety of these agents are few. We stuclied the effects
of acute and sub-acute oral administration of Lamivudine, Nevirapine and Stavudine on
haematological profiles in albino rats. The rats were administered acute and sub-acute doses
of Lamivudine, Nevirapine and Stavudine. Packed Cell Volume (PCV), total white blood cell
count and differentials were determined by standard haernatological methods. There were no
significant differences (p<0.05) in the parametres except in PCV, eosinophils, neutrophils
and leucocyte count associated with nevirapine and leucocytes and eosinophils associated
with larnivudine. We conclude that acute and sub-acute oral administration of these drugs is
associated with few haernatological abnormalities and is therefore safe.
