A patient taking cART therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection develops severe upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back. What complication of this therapy may this patient be experiencing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Severe upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back is a classic presentation of pancreatitis, which is a potential complication of cART therapy for HIV infection. It has been associated with the use of certain antiretroviral drugs, such as didanosine and stavudine, which can cause mitochondrial toxicity and inflammation of the pancreas. Therefore, patients taking cART therapy should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and elevated pancreatic enzymes.

A Patient Taking CART Therapy for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)