title: [Relationship between pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV infection: a meta-analysis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection in high risk populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computerized literature searching had been carried out in PubMed, EMbase, Ovid, Web of Science, Science Direct, Wanfang, Tsinghua Tongfang database and related websites to collect relevant papers (from establishment to June 2012) with the key words of pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV, AIDS, high risk populations, relative risk, reduction. All randomized controlled trials (RCT) papers about using single or compound antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) orally or topically before HIV exposure or during HIV exposure in high risk populations were enrolled. Meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 10.0 to calculate the pooled RR value (95%CI). Consistency test was performed and publication bias was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Finally 5 RCT papers were enrolled, including 10 271 persons who were at high risk of HIV infection. The number of the experimental group was 5929, among which 116(1.96%) became infected. The number of the control group was 4342, among which 201(4.63%) became infected. Meta-analysis showed that the pooled relative risk (RR) and 95%CI was 0.49 (0.39 - 0.61), P < 0.05, indicating that the persons in experimental group had a 0.49 times lower risk of HIV infected, as compared with the control group. Publication bias analysis revealed a symmetry funnel plot. The fail-safe number was 825.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PrEP was an effective and safe protection measure to reduce HIV infection in high risk populations.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-yi
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun-jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Ren-chuan
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Cun-wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yun-feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Suo-su
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xiao-ni
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Ai-long
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents