title: Acyclovir Prophylaxis Reduces the Incidence of Herpes Zoster Among HIV-Infected Individuals: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons have higher rates of herpes zoster than HIV-uninfected individuals. We assessed whether twice daily treatment with 400 mg of oral acyclovir reduces the incidence of herpes zoster in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial among 3408 persons coinfected with HIV and herpes simplex virus type 2. During 5175 person-years of follow-up, 26 cases of herpes zoster occurred among those assigned acyclovir, compared with 69 cases among those assigned placebo (rates, 1.00 and 2.68/100 person-years, respectively), a relative decrease of 62% (hazard ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, .24-.67; P < .001). Daily acyclovir prophylaxis significantly reduced herpes zoster incidence among HIV-infected persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington Department of Medicine, University of Washington Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Ruanne V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Barnabas
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington Department of Medicine, University of Washington Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Jared M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baeten
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington Department of Medicine, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Jairam R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lingappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Katherine K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Nelly R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Mugo
authors.affiliation: Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delany-Moretlwe
authors.affiliation: Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Soweto, South Africa.
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mujugira
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ronald
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Saidi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington Department of Medicine, University of Washington Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wald
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington Department of Medicine, University of Washington Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celum
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010919:Placebos; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: HIV; VZV; acyclovir; acyclovir prophylaxis; herpes zoster; shingles