Acyclovir achieves a lower concentration in African HIV-seronegative, herpes simplex virus 2-seropositive women than in non-African populations

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2012 May;56(5):2777-9. doi: 10.1128/AAC.06160-11. Epub 2012 Feb 13.

Abstract

Acyclovir pharmacokinetics was evaluated in 68 HIV-seronegative, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)-seropositive African women, who received a single oral 400-mg dose of acyclovir, with plasma acyclovir concentrations measured over 8 h. Geometric mean peak concentration and area under the concentration-time curve were 0.31 μg/ml and 1.59 h · μg/ml, respectively, 54% and 52% lower than values from non-Africans. Lower acyclovir concentrations may partly explain the reduced acyclovir suppression of HSV-2 genital ulcer recurrence in HPTN 039 African women participants.

MeSH terms

  • Acyclovir / blood
  • Acyclovir / pharmacokinetics*
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / blood
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Area Under Curve
  • Biological Availability
  • Black People*
  • DNA, Viral / biosynthesis*
  • Female
  • Genitalia, Female
  • HIV Seronegativity
  • Herpes Genitalis / blood*
  • Herpes Genitalis / drug therapy
  • Herpes Genitalis / ethnology
  • Herpes Genitalis / virology
  • Herpesvirus 2, Human / drug effects
  • Herpesvirus 2, Human / physiology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Südafrika
  • Sambia
  • Simbabwe

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • DNA, Viral
  • Acyclovir