Frequent reactivation of herpes simplex virus among HIV-1-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy

J Infect Dis. 2004 Aug 15;190(4):693-6. doi: 10.1086/422755. Epub 2004 Jul 13.

Abstract

The effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on control of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1-infected subjects is not known. Among 28 HAART-treated and 49 untreated subjects with HIV-1 and HSV-2 infections, mucosal HSV shedding (median, 18% and 29% of days positive for HSV DNA, respectively; P=.08) and HSV DNA level (median, 56,250 and 50,000 copies/mL, respectively; P=.20) were similar. Treated subjects reported significantly fewer days with HSV lesions, compared with untreated subjects (2.8% vs. 11.3% of days, respectively; P=.001). Thus, mucosal HSV shedding and HSV-2 reactivation were still frequent among treated subjects, even though HAART was associated with fewer days with HSV lesions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Female
  • Genitalia / virology
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1*
  • HIV-2*
  • Herpes Simplex / complications
  • Herpes Simplex / drug therapy*
  • Herpes Simplex / pathology
  • Herpesvirus 2, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 2, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Mucosa / virology
  • Mucous Membrane / virology
  • Simplexvirus / genetics
  • Simplexvirus / isolation & purification*
  • Virus Shedding

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • DNA, Viral