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Abstract
Zidovudine (AZT), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor was the first breakthrough in AIDS therapy in 1990. This study was conducted with an aim to determine prevalence of AZT induced anemia in HIV infected patients initiated on AZT containing anti retroviral therapy(ART) regimen and also to find out any risk factor for causing AZT induced anemia. Study was carried out in ART center, M.K.C.G, MCH, Berhampur between Jan 2009 and Dec 2011. HIV infected patients registered at ART center were treated according to National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) guidelines. Patients (n = 1221) with Hb >8 gm/dl were prescribed AZT based ART regimen. Patients having anemia (<8 gm/dl) were excluded from the study. Correlation of baseline characteristics (age, sex, weight, Hb level, CD^sub 4^ count, World Health Organization (WHO) clinical stage) with risk of developing anemia was also calculated. 178 (14.6 %) patients on AZT regimen developed anemia. Patients with low CD^sub 4^ count were more prone to develop severe anemia. Age, sex, weight, WHO clinical stage had no relation with development of anemia. Incidence of AZT induced anemia was very high and patients having low CD^sub 4^ count were more susceptible to develop anemia.