Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate may not cause renal and bone toxicity in chronic hepatitis B patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

* Correspondence: [email protected] To the Editor, Tenofovir (TDF) is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor used for treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). TDF-associated hypophosphatemia has been reported in the literature [1,2]. However, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials have documented a favorable renal safety profile of TDF in patients with normal baseline renal function and a comparable incidence of hypophosphatemia [3]. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate if there was a significant change in PO4, Ca levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and bone mineral densitometry (BMD) of CHB patients who were under TDF therapy. Fifty-seven adult CHB patients treated with TDF between 2008 and 2013 were included. Local Ethical Committee approval of the hospital was obtained. Analyses were performed by using SPSS for Windows version 12 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). Median TDF therapy duration was 35 (6–68) months. Although only 3 had hypophosphatemia (<2.5 mg/dL), 15 patients had relatively low phosphate levels (<3 mg/ dL) at baseline (a normal adult is expected to have a PO4 level of 3–4.5 mg/dL). Seventeen (29.8%) of all patients had experienced PO4 levels below 2.5 mg/dL during the therapy period once or several times. Apart from three patients, all (82%) of them had mild hypophosphatemia (2–2.5 mg/ dL). The critical values for PO4 and Ca were not detected in any of the patients. Hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia were present in 2 (3.8%) patients at 45 and 68 months of therapy. No correlation was found between the Ca and PO4 levels and age, sex, or duration of the therapy. The mean urea, creatinine levels, and GFRs at baseline and last visit are given in Table. None of the patients had a sharp decrease in GFR (<30 mL/min/1.73 m2). Three patients (5.3%) had a GFR level of 30–59 mL/min/1.73 m2 both at baseline and at the end of treatment. BMD results of 31 patients (75.6%) were normal while 8 (19.5%) had osteopenia and 2 (4.8%) had osteoporosis. Renal and bone toxicity and PO4 and Ca levels of CHB patients under TDF therapy were evaluated in this study. None of the patients experienced severe hypophosphatemia Received: 30.05.2018 Accepted/Published Online: 24.11.2018 Final Version: 11.02.2019 Letter to the Editor