Zidovudine induced bone marrow toxicity: a case report

Abstract

The treatment of patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex (ARC) with azidothymidine (Zidovudine) is limited by its major haematological toxicity. This is manifested as anaemia, granulocytopenia and bone marrow aplasia/hypoplasia. Zidovudine, a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), is one of the earliest antiretroviral agents used as a combination in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV infection. We report a case of anaemia with bone marrow hypoplasia with a view to suggesting the need for adequate haematological evaluation and adherence to national HIV treatment guidelines in the initiation of HAART.

Keywords: Zidovudine, Pure Red Cell Aplasia, Bone Marrow Hypoplasia.

Highland Medical Research Journal Vol. 5 (1) 2007 pp. 98-100