Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate for Preventionof HIV Infection in Women: A Phase 2, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Leigh Peterson1*, Doug Taylor1, Ronald Roddy2, Ghiorghis Belai1, Pamela Phillips1, Kavita Nanda1,
Robert Grant3,4, Edith Essie Kekawo Clarke5, Anderson Sama Doh6, Renee Ridzon7, Howard S. Jaffe8,
1 Family Health International, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America, 2 Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina, United
States of America, 3 University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America, 4 J. David Gladstone Institutes, San
Francisco, California, United States of America, 5 Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra, Ghana, 6 University of Yaounde´, Yaounde´, Cameroon,
7 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America, 8 Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California, United States of America
Objectives: The objective of this trial was to investigate the safety and preliminary
effectiveness of a daily dose of 300 mg of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) versus placebo in
Foundation to Family HealthInternational (FHI). The views expressed
in this article do not necessarily reflectthose of FHI or the Bill and Melinda GatesFoundation. Gilead Sciences provided the
Design: This was a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
tenofovir disoproxil fumarate andplacebo pills used in the study. Analysisof drug resistance was supported byNational Institutes of Health grant RO1
Setting: The study was conducted between June 2004 and March 2006 in Tema, Ghana;
AI062333. RR is with the Bill and Melinda
Douala, Cameroon; and Ibadan, Nigeria.
Gates Foundation and HJ is with GileadSciences; both contributed to study
Participants: We enrolled 936 HIV-negative women at high risk of HIV infection into this
design, as well as writing/reviewing thepaper and the decision to submit it for
publication. LP has access to all the dataand has responsibility for the accuracy ofthe manuscript.
Intervention: Participants were randomized 1:1 to once daily use of 300 mg of TDF orplacebo.
Competing Interests: HSJ is anemployee and shareholder of GileadSciences, which provided tenofovirdisoproxil fumarate and matching
Outcome measures: The primary safety endpoints were grade 2 or higher serum creatinine
placebo for the study. RR is with the Bill
elevations (.2.0 mg/dl) for renal function, grade 3 or 4 aspartate aminotransferase or alanine
and Melinda Gates Foundation, whichfunded the study.
aminotransferase elevations (.170 U/l) for hepatic function, and grade 3 or 4 phosphorusabnormalities (,1.5 mg/dl). The effectiveness endpoint was infection with HIV-1 or HIV-2.
Citation: Peterson L, Taylor D, Roddy R,Belai G, Phillips P, et al. (2007) Tenofovirdisoproxil fumarate for prevention of HIVinfection in women: A phase 2, double-
Results: Study participants contributed 428 person-years of laboratory testing to the primary
safety analysis. No significant differences emerged between treatment groups in clinical or
trial. PLoS Clin Trials 2(5): e27. doi:10. 1371/journal.pctr.0020027
laboratory safety outcomes. Study participants contributed 476 person-years of HIV testing tothe primary effectiveness analysis, during which time eight seroconversions occurred. Two
were diagnosed in participants randomized to TDF (0.86 per 100 person-years) and six in
Accepted: April 10, 2007Published: May 25, 2007
participants receiving placebo (2.48 per 100 person-years), yielding a rate ratio of 0.35 (95%confidence interval ¼ 0.03–1.93), which did not achieve statistical significance. Owing to
Copyright: Ó 2007 Peterson et al. This isan open-access article distributed under
premature closures of the Cameroon and Nigeria study sites, the planned person-years of
follow-up and study power could not be achieved.
Attribution License, which permitsunrestricted use, distribution, andreproduction in any medium, providedthe original author and source are
Conclusion: Daily oral use of TDF in HIV-uninfected women was not associated with increased
clinical or laboratory adverse events. Effectiveness could not be conclusively evaluated because
of the small number of HIV infections observed during the study.
alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartateaminotransferase; ELISA, enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay; FHI, Family HealthInternational; HBsAg, hepatitis B virussurface antigen; HBV, hepatitis B virus;OMT, oral mucosal transudate; PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis; SAE, seriousadverse event; TDF, tenofovir disoproxilfumarate
* To whom correspondence should beaddressed. E-mail: lpeterson@fhi.org
Background: The World Health Organization has estimated that in
The HIV epidemic is continuing to grow worldwide [1].
2006 around 4.3 million people were newly infected with HIV. Infection
Consistent and correct use of condoms is recommended for
rates seem to be increasing in some countries, and there is an urgent
prevention of sexually transmitted HIV, but often women are
need to find safe and effective ways of preventing HIV from being
unable to negotiate condom use with their male partners.
transmitted from one person to another. Many strategies for the
Safe, effective, and easy to use methods of HIV prevention are
prevention of HIV transmission between adults, such as use of
urgently needed, especially for women.
condoms or changes to behavior, are not completely reliable, and
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) [2], the orally
women, in particular, may not always be able to negotiate condomuse. Additional strategies for reducing the risk of HIV transmission are
bioavailable prodrug of tenofovir, is metabolized to a
needed. One of these strategies is called ‘‘pre-exposure prophylaxis.’’
competitive inhibitor of viral reverse transcriptase. TDF was
This strategy involves individuals who are at high risk of becoming
selected for clinical development as a treatment for HIV
infected with HIV taking antiviral drugs to prevent HIV infection. One
infection because of its (1) potency against wild-type HIV and
particular drug, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, is currently approved as
some nucleoside-resistant strains of HIV [3–6], (2) low
a treatment for HIV infection, and is also being investigated as a strong
potential of selecting for TDF-resistant mutants [7], (3) low
candidate for pre-exposure prophylaxis. The research presented herereports on results of a trial carried out at three different sites in Ghana,
likelihood of metabolic/mitochondrial toxicity [8], and (4)
Cameroon, and Nigeria. In the trial, 936 women who were not infected
pharmacologic profile supporting daily dosing [2]. TDF was
with HIV but who were at high risk of becoming infected, were
licensed for the treatment of established HIV-l infection by
randomized to take tenofovir tablets daily or, alternatively, placebo
the United States Federal Drug Administration in 2001, and
tablets. The researchers planned to follow up with the women for 12
the European Commission issued a marketing authorization
months, and the primary analysis for efficacy would focus on a
in 2002 [9]. TDF has since been used worldwide for treatment
comparison of the rate of new HIV infections between the two arms ofthe trial. Primary safety analyses included specific laboratory tests
of HIV infection, accounting for nearly 500,000 patient-years
carried out on blood samples that might point to abnormalities in liver
or kidney function. Safety data were also collected throughout the trial,
We investigated the safety and effectiveness of a daily dose
and health problems that arose were classified as adverse events or
of 300 mg of TDF in preventing HIV infection among women
at high risk for infection based on the following rationale: (1)initial prevention studies in simian models have provided
What this trial shows: Unfortunately, this trial was not completed asplanned. Two sites (Nigeria and Cameroon) were closed either before the
support for both pre- and post-exposure efficacy of TDF in
planned number of participants had been recruited or before all
preventing retroviral infections [11–14]; (2) TDF has been
participants had completed full follow-up. Therefore, not enough data
shown to be safe in large numbers of HIV-infected persons
were available from this trial to determine whether tenofovir reduced the
[15,16]; (3) TDF is dosed conveniently once a day; (4) TDF has
risk of HIV infection. Only two sites contributed data for the primary
no known interactions with hormonal contraception [17]; (5)
safety analyses, which looked at liver and kidney function. The
a high barrier to resistance was seen in clinical trials of HIV
researchers did not see any statistically significant differences in thesesafety endpoints between participants taking tenofovir and those taking
treatment, with the primary mutation identified (K65R)
placebo. There were also no statistically significant differences between
resulting in a reduction of viral replication to almost half
the treatment groups in the number of adverse events. The main efficacy
that of wild-type [18]; and (6) the drug’s sponsor, Gilead
analysis found two new HIV infections in the tenofovir group and six in
Sciences, is supportive of investigating the potential use of
the placebo group. Because only eight effectiveness endpoints were
TDF as a preventive agent. Moreover, should it prove to be
observed during this study, the difference in HIV incidence between
effective for HIV prevention, Gilead Sciences has committed
these groups was not statistically significant.
to making TDF available in resource-poor settings for public
Strengths and limitations: A strength of this trial is that it was correctly
health use, as they currently do for treatment of HIV, via no-
designed to address the original objectives of the study, involving
profit pricing and licensing agreements.
appropriate concealment of randomization and blinding of participantsand study staff to treatment assignment. The main limitation of thisstudy was the closure of two study sites, which meant that the study did
not have sufficient power to assess differences between trial arms in the
Study participants were recruited from areas within each city
Contribution to the evidence: At the time this trial was completed,
that were considered high HIV transmission areas, including
there was no other evidence from randomized studies that evaluated
markets, bars, and hotels. Although we did not specifically ask
antiretroviral drugs for prevention of HIV infection. This trial cannot,
as part of the clinical trial procedures if the participants were
however, definitively address whether tenofovir reduces the risk of HIV
sex workers, most exchanged sex for money. Special ethical
infection among at-risk women or not. Ongoing and future trials are
considerations were taken into account because of the
essential in order to answer this question. The trial reported hereprovides important data on the safety of daily tenofovir among high-risk
potential vulnerability of this population. We developed
HIV-uninfected women; the safety data are encouraging and suggest
strategies to protect the confidentiality and autonomy of the
that tenofovir use is not associated with increased adverse events as
participants, increase/ensure comprehension of the informed
consent and research methods, and promote access toresources and services during and after the trial.
The Editorial Commentary is written by PLoS staff, based on the reports of the
We enrolled HIV-antibody-negative women 18 to 35 y old
academic editors and peer reviewers.
who were at risk of HIV infection by virtue of having anaverage of three or more coital acts per week and four ormore sexual partners per month. Participants had to bewilling to use the study drug as directed and participate for
up to 12 mo of follow-up. Because TDF has been associated
resistance testing in their communities, as well as antiretro-
with rare episodes of renal disorders, increased liver enzymes,
viral drug provision when needed. Immediately after a
and hypophosphatemia, participants were also required to
participant missed a scheduled follow-up appointment, study
have adequate renal function (serum creatinine , 1.5 mg/dl),
staff made up to three attempts to contact that participant
liver function (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine
and reschedule the clinic appointment (ideally to occur
aminotransferase [ALT] , 43 U/l), and serum phosphorus
within 1 wk of the original appointment).
(2.2 mg/dl) at their screening visit. Since no adequate andwell-controlled studies of TDF have been conducted in
pregnant women, participants were not enrolled if pregnant
The objective of this trial was to investigate the safety and
or breastfeeding, or wishing to become pregnant during the
preliminary effectiveness of a daily dose of 300 mg of TDF
versus placebo in HIV-uninfected women.
During recruitment, study staff explained the general
purpose of the study and the eligibility requirements. Ifeligible, women were referred to the study clinic at each of
Protocol-defined primary safety endpoints included grade 2
the three study sites. At the screening visit, women completed
or higher serum creatinine elevations (.2.0 mg/dl) for renal
written informed consent, received HIV pretest and condom
function, grade 3 or 4 AST or ALT elevations (.170 U/l) for
counseling, and underwent oral mucosal transudate (OMT)
hepatic function, and grade 3 or 4 phosphorus abnormalities
rapid HIV testing. All participants received HIV post-test
counseling, a physical and pelvic examination, urine preg-
After the study began, the TDF prescribing information
nancy tests, and assessment of hepatic and renal function.
was amended to reflect a concern that people with chronic
Women with reactive OMT rapid HIV tests received ELISA to
hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are at risk of developing
confirm HIV status. Potential participants were asked to
reactivation (i.e., flares) of hepatic disease after stopping use
return 4 wk after their screening visit to receive the results of
of TDF. To monitor for potential flares, we amended our
their hepatic and renal function tests and, if applicable, a
protocol to add HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) testing for all
confirmatory HIV test. At this second visit, participants
enrolled participants at the time of product discontinuation,
signed or marked a consent form for enrollment, received
and ALT/AST monitoring for 3 mo after product discontin-
HIV counseling, provided urine for pregnancy testing, and
uation among HBsAg-positive participants. This amendment
provided another OMT sample for HIV testing.
was implemented only at the Ghana site in August 2005,
All participants provided written informed consent in their
which was the only active study site (i.e., on drug) at the time.
preferred language. Illiterate participants were read the
The effectiveness endpoint was infection with HIV-1 or
informed consent forms verbatim in the presence of a
HIV-2, measured by detecting antibodies in OMT (OraQuick
witness, and provided a mark or thumbprint in lieu of
ADVANCE Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, Orasure Technol-
signature. The study protocol and informed consent forms
ogies, http://www.orasure.com) and confirmed by an enzyme-
were approved by the Ghana Health Service Ethical Review
linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Genetic Systems HIV-1/
Committee, Accra, Ghana; the National Ethics Review
HIV-2 Plus O ELISA, Bio-Rad, http://www.bio-rad.com) or
Committee, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde´, Cameroon;
Western blot (Genetic Systems HIV-1 Western Blot, BioRad)
the University of Ibadan/University College Hospital Institu-
from a finger prick or blood serum specimen. Discordant
tional Review Board, Ibadan, Nigeria; and the Protection of
results between the rapid antibody and the ELISA assays were
Human Subjects Committee, Family Health International
(FHI), Durham, North Carolina, United States.
At each monthly follow-up visit, participants underwent
OMT HIV and pregnancy testing, adverse event (AE) assess-
We designed the study to have 90% power to conclude with
ment, risk reduction counseling, and study drug and condom
95% confidence that TDF reduced the rate of HIV infection
re-supply. Clinic staff counseled participants to take one pill
by 50% (i.e., power to obtain a one-sided 95% upper
every day, distributed condoms, and emphasized that
confidence limit for the rate ratio that is less than 0.5) if
condoms should be used for all sexual contacts with all
the true rate of reduction due to TDF was at least 83%. The
partners because they were using a product of unknown or no
planned sample size was 1,200 participants (400 per site), with
effectiveness for preventing HIV. Participants responded to
12 mo of follow-up for each participant. Based on prior work
structured questionnaires on their sexual behavior and their
with high-risk women in Cameroon [19], we assumed that the
experience taking the pills during the previous 30 d, and were
HIV incidence rate in the placebo group would be no less
reminded of study concepts discussed during the informed
than five per 100 person-years, and that follow-up would be at
consent process. At months 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and as needed,
least 80% at 12 mo. Under these assumptions, we expected
participants underwent physical examination and blood was
that we would reach the required number of incident HIV
drawn for laboratory assessment of hepatic and renal
infections (30) to achieve 90% power. Owing to premature
function. We discontinued product use for any participant
closures of the Cameroon and Nigeria study sites, however,
who had a reactive rapid HIV or positive pregnancy test
the planned person-years of follow-up and study power could
result. Pregnant women were allowed to resume study drug
not be achieved. Consequently, the primary effectiveness
use after their pregnancy had ended, providing they were not
analysis was revised to a traditional two-sided test of non-zero
breastfeeding. Study staff at each study site referred and
effectiveness at the 0.05 significance level. The decision to
offered to escort participants who became infected with HIV
change the primary effectiveness analysis was made by the
during the study to HIV-related psychological, social, and
project leader and statistician before unblinding the study.
medical services, such as viral load, CD4 level, and HIV
For non-HIV safety outcomes, the planned sample size
would have provided approximately 90% power to detect a
records, when available, for serious adverse events (SAEs)
doubling in the proportion of women experiencing any
particular adverse reaction, if the proportion experiencingthe reaction in the placebo arm was 0.05 or more. However,
due to early termination of the study in Cameroon and
Participant Flow, Numbers Analyzed, and Baseline
Nigeria, we had only approximately 70% power to detectsuch a difference.
CharacteristicsA total of 2,040 women were screened for inclusion in the
study (Figure 1). The Ghana site completed planned enroll-
A randomization manager not otherwise involved in the study
ment (n ¼ 400) in December 2004. Routine follow-up
developed a random allocation sequence using a permuted-
procedures continued monthly for 1 y, after which 3 mo of
block design stratified by site, with random block sizes of 12,
off-product monitoring of liver function was continued for
18, and 32. A copy of the randomization list was sent to the
the 56 HBsAg-positive participants. The Cameroon site
manufacturer, who filled each drug bottle with a 30-d supply
completed enrollment (n ¼ 400) in December 2004, before
of TDF or placebo (12 bottles per randomization number).
the Ministry of Health suspended study drug distribution in
Placebo tablets were identical to the TDF tablets in size,
February 2005. In Nigeria, 136 of the planned 400 partic-
shape, color, and taste. Each drug bottle was marked with a
ipants were enrolled before site closure. Loss to follow-up was
sequential randomization number, but no product identifier.
17.3% (19.2% in the TDF group and 15.4% in the placebo
Participants, field study staff, monitors, statisticians, and
group, p ¼ 0.11). Among these were 77 participants who never
other FHI staff involved in the trial were blinded to drug
returned after their enrollment visit and were therefore
assignment. Study staff assigned each eligible participant the
excluded from the primary safety and effectiveness analyses.
next sequential number, and gave her the first month’s supply
No participants were discontinued from the study by the site
of study drug after she had fully qualified for the study and
investigator or study clinician because of an AE or abnormal
signed or marked the enrollment consent form.
laboratory result. Participants enrolled into the TDF andplacebo groups were similar in important demographic
Primary safety analyses were based on time to grade 2 orhigher abnormalities for creatinine or grade 3 or higher
abnormalities for ALT, AST, and phosphorus, by site, using
We enrolled participants into this study between June 2004
exact two-sided log-rank tests computed in StatXact Version
and March 2005. The last participant visit occurred in Ghana
7 (Cytel, http://www.cytel.com). Because of irregularities in the
in March 2006. In Cameroon, the Ministry of Health
performance of the laboratory in Nigeria, data from that site
suspended study drug distribution in February 2005 primarily
were excluded from the primary safety analyses. The project
in response to concerns about the standard of long-term
leader and study statistician made this decision before
post-trial care that could be guaranteed to seroconverters.
Participants continued to come to the clinic for off-product
The primary effectiveness analysis was based on an exact
laboratory, pregnancy, and HIV testing, and HIV prevention
log-rank test of no difference in the distribution of HIV-free
counseling and condom distribution until September 2005, at
survival times, with data pooled across all three sites. Each
which time the Cameroon site was closed. In Nigeria, because
laboratory abnormality and HIV infection date was estimated
of repeated noncompliance with the protocol that was not
as the midpoint between the date of the first positive test
resolved with staff retraining, enrollment was stopped in
result and the previous, negative test date. A right censoring
March 2005, and the site was closed thereafter.
time of 12 mo was applied in Ghana, corresponding to the
treatment regimen. For all participants in Cameroon and
During screening, participants reported an average of 12
Nigeria, the censoring date was the date of permanent
coital acts per week with an average of 21 sexual partners in
product withdrawal (4 February 2005 and 7 March 2005,
the previous 30 d (including 11 new partners). During follow-
respectively). Secondarily, exact confidence intervals for the
up, participants reported an average of 15 coital acts per
relative risk of HIV, laboratory abnormalities, and AEs within
week, with an average of 14 sexual partners in the previous 30
system organ classes were computed under a Poisson
d (six new partners). Self-reported condom use increased
assumption for the event rates in each treatment group. All
from 52% at screening (average across all sites during the last
primary and secondary analyses were based on two-sided tests
coital act prior to screening) to approximately 92% at the
and conducted at the 0.05 significance level.
enrollment, month 3, month 6, and month 9 visits, to 95% at
Protocol-specified interim safety analyses occurred in April
the month 12 visit (for acts occurring during the last 7 d). The
and December 2005. An independent Data Monitoring
average condom use during the follow-up period was 92%.
Committee, with access to treatment assignments, reviewed
The overall pregnancy rate during follow-up was 52 per 100
AEs and primary safety and effectiveness outcomes. The
committee did not recommend changes in study proceduresafter either analysis.
FHI monitors (trained in Good Clinical Practice) visited the
The amount of product used was estimated by subtracting the
sites regularly to review study eligibility, informed consent,
number of pills returned from the number dispensed, and
protocol compliance, laboratory procedures, source docu-
dividing this number by the total number of days in the
ments, and AEs. We attempted to get original hospital
effectiveness analysis. Based on this calculation, drug was
used for no more than 69% of all study days (78% in
a grade 3þ decrease in phosphorus (,1.5 mg/dl), which
Cameroon, 68% in Ghana, and 50% in Nigeria). Excluding
spontaneously resolved to normal within 3 mo (study product
time off product due to pregnancy, drug was used for no
was not withdrawn). No participants in either group had a
more than 74% of study days. Missed/late clinic visits and
grade 2þ creatinine elevation (.2.0 mg/dl). We did not find
pregnancy were the principal documented reasons for time
significant differences in laboratory abnormalities between
treatment groups when the data were stratified by site,although significantly more grade 1 AST and phosphorus
abnormalities occurred in Ghana than in Cameroon, and
Hepatic and renal function. Analysis of hepatic and renal
significantly more grade 1 creatinine abnormalities occurred
function was restricted to data from Ghana and Cameroon,
which resulted in 210.2 person-years of follow-up in the TDF
Among the 56 participants who tested positive for HBsAg,
group and 217.6 person-years in the placebo group. We did
23 were in the TDF group and 33 in the placebo group. The
not find significant differences in the primary safety
mean and median ALT and AST levels were not significantly
endpoints between treatment groups (Table 2). Specifically,
different between groups immediately before or after
none of the 363 participants assigned to TDF in Ghana or
discontinuation of study drug. Four ALT/AST abnormalities
Cameroon had grade 3 or higher (.170 U/l) ALT or AST
(none over grade 1 [.42 U/l]) occurred within 3 mo after
elevations before product withdrawal, whereas two and three
discontinuation of study drug in HBsAg-positive participants;
of the 368 participants in the placebo group had grade 3þ
one was in the TDF group and three were in the placebo
ALT and AST elevations, respectively. The percentage of
grade 1 or higher (.42 U/l) ALT and AST abnormalities was
In Cameroon, study drug was stopped before the imple-
greater in the TDF group, but the difference did not achieve
mentation of the protocol amendment that included HBsAg
statistical significance. One participant in the TDF group had
testing. We therefore monitored liver function for several
If have been pregnant, number of pregnancies
Had any sexually transmitted infection in past 6 mo, n (%)
months after product withdrawal in all participants, regard-
participant by the site investigator or study clinician because
less of HBV status. The mean and median ALT and AST levels
of an AE or abnormal laboratory result.
were not significantly different between groups immediatelybefore or after discontinuation of study drug. Twenty ALT/
AST abnormalities occurred within 3 mo after discontinua-
For the primary effectiveness analysis, women in Cameroon,
tion of study drug; 14 were in the TDF group and six were in
Ghana, and Nigeria contributed 232.6 person-years of follow-
the placebo group. With the exception of one, all were grade
up in the TDF group and 241.3 person-years in the placebo
1 or 2 events (i.e., less than 85 U/l). One participant (who
Eight seroconversions occurred among participants while
received TDF) had a grade 3 AST abnormality, which resolved
receiving the study drug. Two HIV infections were diagnosed
in participants randomized to TDF (rate ¼ 0.86 per 100
Adverse events. A total of 320 (75%) women in the TDF
person-years) and six in participants receiving placebo (rate ¼
group and 310 (72%) women in the placebo group had at
2.48 per 100 person-years), yielding a rate ratio of 0.35 (95%
least one AE. The most frequently reported AEs (occurring in
confidence interval ¼ 0.03–1.93; p ¼ 0.24). With the exception
5% of participants in either treatment group) are summar-
of two participants (one randomized to TDF and one to
ized in Table 3. There were no significant differences between
placebo), all seroconversions were detected on or after the
treatment groups for any AEs within system organ classes.
second monthly follow-up visit. Blood specimens were
Similar results were obtained among HBsAg-positive partic-
available from one of the two participants who seroconverted
while on TDF; standard genotypic analysis revealed no
Twenty–two SAEs were reported during the study (nine in
evidence of drug resistance mutations. An additional six
the TDF group and 13 in the placebo group) in 17
participants seroconverted after study drug was discontinued
participants. The majority of the SAEs were hospitalizations
in Cameroon (four had been randomized to TDF and two to
due to malaria (nine events). No SAEs were considered
related to study drug. Two deaths occurred in Cameroonduring the course of the study; both occurred approximately
5 mo after study drug dispensation was suspended. One wasdue to an unspecified condition with anemia (the participant
had been randomized to placebo), and one was suspected to
Our data provide an encouraging rationale for additional
be related to an induced abortion (the participant had been
research to evaluate oral antiretroviral drugs as prophylaxis
randomized to TDF). Study drug was not discontinued in any
against HIV infection. No significant differences in safety
Table 2. Laboratory Abnormalities during Scheduled Follow-Up in Ghana and Cameroon
patterns occurred among participants receiving daily oral
access to information and medications. Furthermore, PEP or
TDF compared with those receiving placebo, consistent with
event-driven dosing is limited by the fact that failures can
results seen in previous treatment studies [2].
occur when treatment is not initiated because the risk of the
No randomized clinical studies have been completed to
exposure is not recognized [23]. We address this limitation of
evaluate the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs as pre- or
event-driven dosing in this study by recommending daily
post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV infection. In a recent
dosing for frequently exposed persons—a strategy referred to
Cochrane review [20], only one case-control study of health-
as pre-exposure prophylaxis. Because public health practice
care workers after needlestick injury was identified. HIV-
should be guided by evidence, especially in settings having
infected workers had significantly lower odds of having taken
competing demands for scarce public health resources, an
zidovudine prophylaxis after exposure than those who did
urgent need exists for antiviral prophylaxis for HIV to be
not seroconvert (odds ratio ¼ 0.19, 95% confidence interval ¼
evaluated in randomized, placebo-controlled trials, as we
0.06–0.52) [21]. The effectiveness of antiviral prophylaxis
report here. Further effectiveness studies in populations of
after sexual exposure is not known [22]. Non-randomized
women at high risk for acquiring HIV should proceed
observations of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are difficult
to interpret because there could be underlying and uncon-
The premature stopping of the study in Cameroon and
trolled differences between those who seek and use PEP and
Nigeria limited the amount of follow-up safety and effective-
those who do not, including differences in behavior and
ness data obtained in this study. Furthermore, AEs and
Table 3. Selected Treatment-Emergent AEs Reported in 5% in Any Treatment Group (All Sites Combined)
laboratory abnormalities in the TDF group may have been
diluted by lower than expected product use due to missed
We wish to acknowledge the study participants and study staff at
visits, drug stoppage due to pregnancy, and other reasons for
Virtual Access in Tema, Ghana, the Care and Health Program in
non-use of study drug. The overall rate of HIV infection while
Douala, Cameroon, and the University College Hospital Study Clinic
women were on TDF or placebo in Ghana, Cameroon, and
Nigeria was too low to demonstrate a reduction in risk forthose assigned to the TDF group.
TDF is active against HBV, and is recommended for
treatment of HBV infection in Europe and by many experts
LP, RR, RG, HSJ, and WC designed the study. GB was the Clinical
[24–27]. Transaminase increases have been observed in up to
Research Manager for this study. LP and PP monitored that the study
25% of patients stopping anti-HBV drugs after receiving
was conducted per protocol, Good Clinical Practice, and FHI
therapy for clinically important HBV infection, characterized
Standard Operating Procedures. EEKC and ASD enrolled patientsand collected data or performed experiments for this study. RG
by pre-treatment elevated ALT or AST or signs of liver
helped design a protocol modification, did the resistance testing,
fibrosis [28]. No flares of ALT or AST were observed among
interpreted the results, and provided assistance to analyze the data.
those with HBV infection in this study, although our analysis
DT analyzed the data. All authors contributed to writing the paper.
was limited to 23 TDF-treated women with reactive tests forHBsAg. The rate of HBV flares after withdrawing TDF may below among people with normal baseline liver tests and no
signs or symptoms of advanced liver disease, such as the
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2006) Report on the global
women enrolled here. Additional data on the use of TDF in
AIDS epidemic 2006. Geneva: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/
persons with circulating HBsAg are needed to confirm the
AIDS. Available: http://www.unaids.org/en/HIV_data/2006GlobalReport/default.asp. Accessed 17 April 2007.
Gilead Sciences (2006) Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) tablets [full
We expected the HIV incidence in the placebo group to be
prescribing information]. Foster City (California): Gilead Sciences. Avail-
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Yasuyuki Ishikawa E-mail: yishikawa@uprrp.edu Date of Birth: Oct. 10, 1947(naturalized U.S. citizen): Marital Status: Married, one child Education Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, B.S. in Chemistry 1971 University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, Ph.D. in Chemistry 1976 Employment Professor of Chemistry University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras IMS Visiting Professor University of Puerto Rico, Ri
Ain Shams Journal of Anesthesiology Vol 5-1; Jan 2012 DEXAMETHASONE AS ADJUVANT TO CAUDAL ROPIVACAINE AS ANALGESIC FOR LABOR PAIN Ahmed Abdalla Mohammed1, Wael Ahmed Ibrahim2 , Tamer Fayez Safan1 1 Department of Anesthesiology, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt 2 Department of Anesthesiology, NCI, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt Abstract Objectives : To evaluate analges