NAPWA

A Peru based study found that daily treatment with the anti-herpes drug valaciclovir significantly reduced HIV viral loadA measurement of the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Viral load blood test results are expressed as the number of copies (of HIV) per milliliter of blood plasma. in both the blood and genital secretions of HIV/herpes simplex virusA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell.-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 antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. monotherapy, but without the risk of anti- HIV drug resistanceHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant.. Suppressing viral load in both genital secretions and blood with anti-herpes therapy could have clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. 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.