Genital HSV Shedding among Kenyan Women Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy

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ICRHK
Research publications

Griffins O Manguro 1, Linnet N Masese 2, Ruth W Deya 3, Amalia Magaret 4, Anna Wald 2 4 5 6, R Scott McClelland 2 3 5 7, Susan M Graham 2 3 5 7

 

Affiliations

  • 1Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • 2Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
  • 3Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
  • 5Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
  • 6Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
  • 7Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.

PMID: 27683204 PMCID: PMC5040248

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163541

 

Abstract

Objectives: Genital ulcer disease (GUD) prevalence increases in the first month of antiretroviral treatment (ART), followed by a return to baseline prevalence by month 3. Since most GUD is caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), we hypothesized that genital HSV detection would follow a similar pattern after treatment initiation.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 122 HSV-2 and HIV-1 co-infected women with advanced HIV disease who initiated ART and were followed closely with collection of genital swab specimens for the first three months of treatment.

Results: At baseline, the HSV detection rate was 32%, without significant increase in genital HSV detection noted during the first month or the third month of ART. HIV-1 shedding declined during this period; no association was also noted between HSV and HIV-1 shedding during this period.

Conclusion: Because other studies have reported increased HSV detection in women initiating ART and we have previously reported an increase in GUD during early ART, it may be prudent to counsel HIV-1 infected women initiating ART that HSV shedding in the genital tract may continue after ART initiation.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

 

Link

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27683204/

 

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