The psychosocial impact of serological herpes simplex type 2 testing in an urban HIV clinic.
OBJECTIVE
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a common infection among HIV infected people. HSV type specific serologies permit the diagnosis of previously unrecognised HSV-2 infection. While substantial psychosocial morbidity has been associated with a clinical diagnosis of genital herpes, the burden associated with a serological diagnosis of HSV-2 is unclear. This study prospectively measured the psychosocial response to a new serological HSV-2 diagnosis in patients receiving care at an urban HIV clinic.


METHODS
At entry, sera were tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies by western blot. Participants completed a 90 item psychosocial and life quality questionnaire at enrollment, and at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after receiving test results.


RESULTS
Of 248 HIV infected participants, 172 (69.4%) were HSV-2 seropositive and 116 (67.4%) seropositive people did not have a previous history of genital herpes. After correction for multiple comparisons, no statistically significant differences were detected on the psychosocial and life quality scales between those who received a new HSV-2 serological diagnosis compared with those who were HSV-2 seropositive with a history of genital herpes, or those who tested HSV-2 seronegative. Additionally, no significant changes in scores were observed during follow up.


CONCLUSIONS
HSV-2 was a common but often unrecognised infection in this urban HIV clinic and participants coped well with a positive HSV-2 result. Concerns about psychosocial burden should not deter serological testing for HSV-2. Given the epidemiological and clinical interaction between HSV-2 and HIV, these data support routine HSV-2 testing of HIV infected people.
Meyer
J L
JL
University of Washington, Department of Epidemiology, USA.
Crosby
R A
RA
Whittington
W L H
WL
Carrell
D
D
Ashley-Morrow
R
R
Meier
A S
AS
Harrington
R D
RD
DiClemente
R
R
Wald
A
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014504:Urban Health