Can Herpes Suppression Prevent HIV?
The ACE study, conducted by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, will examine whether suppression of genital herpes (herpes simplex virus type 2, or HSV-2) with acyclovir (Zovirax) can help reduce the risk of contracting HIV. Research to date indicates that having even subclinical HSV-2 infection without obvious lesions can increase the likelihood that an individual will contract or transmit HIV. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 400 mg of acyclovir or placebo twice daily for 12 months. Those who develop genital herpes outbreaks will be treated with open-label acyclovir. Study visits will take place every month and participants will be compensated for their time. Eligible participants are sexually active HIV-negative gay or bisexual men at least 18 years of age with confirmed HSV-2 infection. The study will enroll 315 participants in New York City (212-388-0008), San Francisco (415-554-9064), and Seattle (206-521-5821). Back to the SFAF BETA Summer 2004
