Fatal portal hypertension, liver failure, and mitochondrial dysfunction after HIV-1 nucleoside analogue-induced hepatitis and lactic acidaemia

Acute hepatitis with lactic acidosis Is a life threatening but reversible t oxic effect on mitochondria of HIV-1 nucleoside analogue treatment. We repo rt fatal portal hypertension, liver failure, and persistent mitochondrial d ysfunction in a man aged 65 years with HIV-1 Infection who had recovered fr om nucleoside-analogue-induced acute hepatitis and lactic acidaemia more th an 18 months previously. We believe that symptomfree patients who receive n ucleoside-analogue therapy should have hepatic function constantly monitore d, especially those with past or present lactic acidaemia.