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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Effect of aciclovir on HIV-1 acquisition in herpes simplex virus 2 seropositive women and men who have sex with men: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
The Lancet, Volume 371, No. 9630, Year 2008
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Description
Background: Across many observational studies, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection is associated with two-fold to three-fold increased risk for HIV-1 infection. We investigated whether HSV-2 suppression with aciclovir would reduce the risk of HIV-1 acquisition. Methods: We undertook a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase III trial in HIV-negative, HSV-2 seropositive women in Africa and men who have sex with men (MSM) from sites in Peru and the USA. Participants were randomly assigned by block randomisation to twice daily aciclovir 400 mg (n=1637) or matching placebo (n=1640) for 12-18 months, and were seen monthly for dispensation of study drug, adherence counselling and measurement by pill count and self-reporting, and risk reduction counselling, and every 3 months for genital examination and HIV testing. The primary outcome was HIV-1 acquisition and secondary was incidence of genital ulcers. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00076232. Findings: 3172 participants (1358 women, 1814 MSM) were included in the primary dataset (1581 in aciclovir group, 1591 in control group). The incidence of HIV-1 was 3·9 per 100 person-years in the aciclovir group (75 events in 1935 person-years of follow-up) and 3·3 per 100 person-years in the placebo group (64 events in 1969 person-years of follow-up; hazard ratio 1·16 [95% CI 0·83-1·62]). Incidence of genital ulcers on examination was reduced by 47% (relative risk 0·53 [0·46-0·62]) and HSV-2 positive genital ulcers by 63% (0·37 [0·31-0·45]) in the aciclovir group. Adherence to dispensed study drug was 94% in the aciclovir group and 94% in the placebo group, and 85% of expected doses in the aciclovir group and 86% in the placebo group. Retention was 85% at 18 months in both groups (1028 of 1212 in aciclovir group, 1030 of 1208 in placebo group). We recorded no serious events related to the study drug. Interpretation: Our results show that suppressive therapy with standard doses of aciclovir is not effective in reduction of HIV-1 acquisition in HSV-2 seropositive women and MSM. Novel strategies are needed to interrupt interactions between HSV-2 and HIV-1. Funding: US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, US National Institute of Drug Abuse, US National Institute of Mental Health, US Office of AIDS Research, and GlaxoSmithKline. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Celum, Connie L.
United States, Seattle
University of Washington
Wald, Anna
United States, Seattle
University of Washington
United States, Seattle
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Hughes, James P.
United States, Seattle
University of Washington
Sánchez, Jorge L.
Peru, Lima
Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación
Reid, Stewart E.
United States, Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Zambia, Lusaka
Centre for Infectious Disease Research
Delany-Moretlwe, Sinead
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Cowan, Frances Mary
United Kingdom, London
Ucl Medical School
Casapia, Martin
Peru, Lima
Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación
Ortiz, Abner
Peru, Lima
Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación
Fuchs, Jonathan D.
United States, San Francisco
San Francisco Department of Public Health
Buchbinder, Susan P.
United States, San Francisco
San Francisco Department of Public Health
Koblin, Beryl A.
United States, New York
New York Blood Center
Zwerski, Sheryl L.
United States, Bethesda
National Institutes of Health Nih
Rose, Scott
United States, Durham
Fhi 360
Wang, Jing
United States, Seattle
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Corey, Lawrence
United States, Seattle
University of Washington
United States, Seattle
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Statistics
Citations: 435
Authors: 16
Affiliations: 11
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60920-4
ISSN:
01406736
Research Areas
Disability
Environmental
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Mental Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Substance Abuse
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Cohort Study
Case-Control Study
Participants Gender
Male
Female