The effect of valacyclovir treatment on natural killer cells of infertile women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of valacyclovir treatment on natural killer (NK) cell concentration in the peripheral blood of infertile women.


METHODS
Peripheral blood NK cell concentration of 104 non-pregnant women with a history of infertility was determined by flow cytometry. The controls were 14 fertile non-pregnant women. A cohort of 42 out of 104 women--whose NK cell levels were 175/microL or higher--was prospectively studied for the presence of HSV-1, 2, VZV, cytomegalovirus, HHV-6, HHV-7 and HHV-8 DNA in the peripheral blood and was orally administered valacyclovir (open label study).


RESULTS
Herpes virus DNA was detected in 64.3% of the 42 women examined. Prior to valacyclovir treatment mean NK cell concentration in herpes-negative group was statistically higher from control group but lower from herpes positive group (P = 0.0007, ANOVA). Following valacyclovir treatment the mean NK cell concentration was statistically decreased in all studied women (P = 0.000453), in herpes-negative (P = 0.01622) and in herpes positive group (P = 0.0056). Sufficient decrease was observed in 31 (73.8%) of 42 women who received the drug.


CONCLUSIONS
Valacyclovir treatment is associated with a decrease of NK cell levels in most of the women with a history of infertility.
Thomas
Dimitrios
D
Department of infertility, Locus Medicus Laboratory, Athens, Greece.
Michou
Vassiliki
V
Tegos
Vassilis
V
Patargias
Theoharis
T
Moustakarias
Theodoros
T
Kanakas
Nikolaos
N
Mantzavinos
Themis
T
Apostolidis
Christophoros
C
Salamalekis
Emmanouil
E
Kalofoutis
Anastasios
A
Tsilivakos
Vassilis
V
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir