A prospective study of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive women: correlations with CD4 cell count and plasma HIV-1 RNA level.
A cohort of 217 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive women was observed prospectively from 1996 through 2000 to determine the frequency of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) disease (symptomatic and asymptomatic) and to correlate those findings with HIV-1-related immunosuppression (absolute CD4 cell counts and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels). Participants underwent twice-yearly pelvic examinations, including cultures of cervicovaginal specimens and swab specimens from genital lesions, if lesions were present. Of the participants, 72 (33%) had genital HSV-2 infection diagnosed on the basis of either history alone (23 [32%]) or positive culture results (49 [68%]). The 72 women who had genital herpes diagnosed completed 242 total visits. Of these visits, positive HSV-2 culture results were noted at 80 (33%); at 23 (29%) of the 80 visits at which there were HSV-2-positive cultures, culture results were not associated with a clinically apparent genital lesion. Positive HSV-2 culture results occurred more frequently for samples obtained from patients with higher plasma HIV-1 RNA levels (P=.019) and lower CD4 cell counts (P<.001).
Wright
Patty W
PW
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294-0006, USA.
Hoesley
Craig J
CJ
Squires
Kathleen E
KE
Croom-Rivers
Angela
A
Weiss
Heidi L
HL
Gnann
John W
JW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000821:virology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*
D012367:RNA, Viral