Developments in STD/HIV interactions: the intertwining epidemics of HIV and HSV-2.
Antiviral agents aimed at treating HSV-2 chronically infected individuals have proven to be effective in the prevention of symptomatic genital herpes and the reduction of viral shedding. These agents play a key role in current HIV prevention trials that will assess the role of suppression of HSV-2 infection on the risk for HIV acquisition and transmission. An added clinical benefit of treating HSV-2/HIV-coinfected individuals is the potential survival benefit, as suggested by earlier studies and by the recent findings that HSV-2/HIV dually infected individuals have higher viral loads. The results of the current HSV-2 suppression trials may provide additional tools to fight the global spread of HIV infection. Treatment of HSV-2/HIV dually infected individuals may prove to be a low-cost intervention to improve clinical outcomes and delay the need for antiretroviral therapy.
Reynolds
Steven J
SJ
Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Ross 1159, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. sreynol6@jhmi.edu
Quinn
Thomas C
TC
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
D000998:Antiviral Agents