Anti-herpes therapy reduces viral load in MSM not taking HIV therapy

From the December 2007 issue of Positive Living • By Serena Maluwisa

A Peru based study found that daily treatment with the anti-herpes drug valaciclovir significantly reduced HIV viral load in both the blood and genital secretions of HIV/herpes simplex virus-2- infected men who have sex with men (MSM). The study was conducted in Lima, Peru and published in the 15 November edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The study found the reduction in HIV viral load in the blood achieved with anti-herpes therapy was similar to that seen with antiretroviral monotherapy, but without the risk of anti- HIV drug resistance. Suppressing viral load in both genital secretions and blood with anti-herpes therapy could have clinical benefits for the individual and help prevent the ongoing transmission. Investigators call for larger studies to see if suppressive anti-herpes therapy could actually delay HIV disease progression and the need to start antiretroviral therapy.

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This article was first published in December 2007.

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