Daily acyclovir for HIV-1 disease progression in people dually infected with HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus type 2: a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most people infected with HIV-1 are dually infected with herpes simplex virus type 2. Daily suppression of this herpes virus reduces plasma HIV-1 concentrations, but whether it delays HIV-1 disease progression is unknown. We investigated the effect of acyclovir on HIV-1 progression.

Methods

In a trial with 14 sites in southern Africa and east Africa, 3381 heterosexual people who were dually infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 and HIV-1 were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to acyclovir 400 mg orally twice daily or placebo, and were followed up for up to 24 months. Eligible participants had CD4 cell counts of 250 cells per mL or higher and were not taking antiretroviral therapy. We used block randomisation, and patients and investigators were masked to treatm

SUBMITTER: Lingappa JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2877592 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature