Estimating the public health impact of the effect of herpes simplex virus suppressive therapy on plasma HIV-1 viral load.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Trials of herpes simplex virus (HSV) suppressive therapy among HSV-2/HIV-1-infected individuals have reported an impact on plasma HIV-1 viral loads (PVLs). Our aim was to estimate the population-level impact of suppressive therapy on female-to-male HIV-1 sexual transmission.

Design and methods

By comparing prerandomization and postrandomization individual-level PVL data from the first two HSV suppressive therapy randomized controlled trials in sub-Saharan Africa, we estimated the effect of treatment on duration of asymptomatic infection and number of HIV-1 transmission events for each trial.

Results

Assuming that a reduction in PVL is accompanied by an increased duration of HIV-1 asymptomatic infection, 4-6 years of HSV suppressive therapy produce a 1-year i

SUBMITTER: Baggaley RF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2763398 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature