Valacyclovir vs. Acyclovir as HSV-2 Suppressive Therapy: Effect on Plasma HIV-1 Levels Among HIV-1/HSV-2 Co-infected Persons

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether treating HSV-2 with either valacyclovir or acyclovir is more effective in suppressing HIV-1 virus levels in people co-infected with HIV-1 and HSV-2.

Timeline

Start

2010-02

Primary completion

2010-11

Completion

2010-12

Publications

• Background Brown EL, Wald A, Hughes JP, Morrow RA, Krantz E, Mayer K, Buchbinder S, Koblin B, Celum C. High risk of human immunodeficiency virus in men who have sex with men with herpes simplex virus type 2 in the EXPLORE study. Am J Epidemiol. 2006 Oct 15;164(8):733-41. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwj270. Epub 2006 Aug 8.
• Background Freeman EE, Weiss HA, Glynn JR, Cross PL, Whitworth JA, Hayes RJ. Herpes simplex virus 2 infection increases HIV acquisition in men and women: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. AIDS. 2006 Jan 2;20(1):73-83. doi: 10.1097/01.aids.0000198081.09337.a7.
• Background Schacker T, Zeh J, Hu H, Shaughnessy M, Corey L. Changes in plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA associated with herpes simplex virus reactivation and suppression. J Infect Dis. 2002 Dec 15;186(12):1718-25. doi: 10.1086/345771. Epub 2002 Nov 22.
• Mugwanya K, Baeten JM, Mugo NR, Irungu E, Ngure K, Celum C. High-dose valacyclovir HSV-2 suppression results in greater reduction in plasma HIV-1 levels compared with standard dose acyclovir among HIV-1/HSV-2 coinfected persons: a randomized, crossover trial. J Infect Dis. 2011 Dec 15;204(12):1912-7. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir649. Epub 2011 Oct 12.

Drugs

Indications