HIV Drugs Side Effects
HealthDay (1/31, Dallas) reports, “–
HIV, Cleft Palate / The Maher Law Firm
Although there remains a possibility that some of these medications might cause birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate,” according to a study published in the January issue of Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal.
To analyze the possible association between antiretroviral drugs and birth defects,Vassiliki Cartsos, an associate professor and director of graduate orthodontics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, and colleagues examined five years of adverse events compiled by the US Food and Drug Administration.
They found that the seven antiretroviral drugs (lamivudine (Epivir); efavirenz (known as EFV); nelfinavir (Viracept); and the combination of abacavir (Ziagen), sulfate, lamivudine and zidovudine (Retrovir) were associated with 26 incidents of cleft lip and palate but “the authors noted, uncovering an association does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.”
