Abstract
Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) suppression with acyclovir or valacyclovir reduces HIV-1 viral RNA levels; one hypothesis is that HSV-2 suppression reduces immune activation. We measured T cell immune activation markers among women participating in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of valacyclovir to reduce HIV-1 RNA levels among pregnant women. Although valacyclovir was associated with lower HIV-1 RNA levels, the distribution of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) CD38(+)HLA-DR(+) T cells was not different among women taking valacyclovir when compared to women taking placebo. Further study is needed to understand the mechanism of HIV-1 RNA reduction following herpes suppression among those coinfected with HIV-1 and HSV-2.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00530777.
Publication types
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Randomized Controlled Trial
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acyclovir / analogs & derivatives*
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Acyclovir / therapeutic use
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Adult
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Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
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Coinfection / drug therapy
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Coinfection / immunology*
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Coinfection / virology
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Double-Blind Method
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Female
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HIV Infections / complications*
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HIV Infections / drug therapy
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HIV Infections / immunology
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HIV-1 / drug effects
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HIV-1 / immunology
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Herpes Simplex / complications*
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Herpes Simplex / drug therapy
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Herpes Simplex / immunology
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Herpesvirus 2, Human / drug effects
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Herpesvirus 2, Human / immunology
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Humans
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Kenya
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Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy
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Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
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Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology
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Simplexvirus / drug effects
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Simplexvirus / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Valacyclovir
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Valine / analogs & derivatives*
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Valine / therapeutic use
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Young Adult
Substances
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Antiviral Agents
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Valine
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Valacyclovir
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Acyclovir
Associated data
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ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00530777