EFFECTIVE HIV treatment has significantly reduced the risk of serious kidney disease in people with HIV. However, most anti-HIV drugs can cause some damage to the kidneys, so routine HIV care will involve regular tests to check on the health of one’s kidneys. Tenofovir (Viread, also in the combination pills Truvada, Atripla and Eviplera) is processed by the body through the kidneys, and there is evidence that it can cause damage to the kidneys over time.

UK treatment guidelines recommend that people with moderate or severe existing kidney disease should not take tenofovir if there is a suitable alternative. People with other risk factors for kidney disease (for example high blood pressure or diabetes) might have an increased risk of developing kidney problems when taking this drug.
If one develops kidney problems, it might be necessary to change the HIV treatment, or to have additional treatment for this.