The use of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) leads to a very small challenge to kidney function that is reversible after stopping treatment, aidsmap reports. Publishing their findings in the journal AIDS, investigators of the iPREX study randomly assigned 2,499 HIV-negative men and transgender women who have sex with men to receive daily Truvada or a placebo, and then performed kidney function screens both during and after treatment that lasted on average for 81 weeks.

Those in the treatment arm of the study experienced a small but significant drop in creatinine clearance, an indicator of kidney function, compared with those who received a placebo: -2.4 milliliters per minute as opposed to -1.1 mL/min. The difference developed after four weeks of treatment and remained until the participants stopped taking Truvada, after which their creatinine clearance levels returned to normal.

The researchers acknowledge that their findings are limited both by the low adherence to Truvada among study participants, as well as by the relatively short course of treatment.

They state that this study supports the importance of ongoing monitoring of serum creatinine during use of Truvada as PrEP.

To read the aidsmap story, click here.

To read the study abstract, click here.