Herpes simplex virus

Daily treatment with aciclovir for people with both HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) lowered their risk of progression by 16%.

People with HIV often have genital herpes (HSV2).

3381 heterosexual people who were infected with both HSV2 and HIV-1 were enrolled in the trial at 14 sites in Africa.

The volunteers were “randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to aciclovir 400 mg orally twice daily or placebo, and were followed up for up to 24 months”.

“Aciclovir reduced risk of HIV-1 disease progression by 16%,” the researchers found, recommending further consideration of the “role of suppression of herpes simplex virus type 2 in reduction of HIV-1 disease progression before initiation of antiretroviral therapy”.

The treatment did not reduce the risk of HIV transmission.