Lamivudine-artesunate co-administration affects glucose metabolism in healthy and diseased wistar rats

HIV-Malaria co morbidity frequently requires the co administration of Lamivudine and Artesunate, in Malaria endemic areas where HIV is also a problem. This situation is a frequent occurrence in developing countries of the tropics, like Nigeria where the burden of Malaria and HIV is heavy. The co administration of these drugs may result in interactions with possible physiologic and/or therapeutic consequences. This study investigated the effect of Lamivudine-Artesunate co administration on body weight, relative organ weight and glucose tolerance in healthy and diseased (Plasmodium berghei infected and cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed) wistar rats. Animals received a cumulative 21 day treatment with Lamivudine (20 mg/kg) and/or 7 day Artesunate (10 mg/kg), with healthy or disease controls. Results showed that organ weights and body weights were not affected. Oral glucose was however affected in the combination and Artesunate groups in both disease and healthy rats. The study shows that glucose tolerance is altered with Lamivudine-Artesunate co administration, and may be beneficial, as hypoglycaemia is often a complication of Malaria therapy.