Lingappa, Jairam R; Kahle, Erin; Mugo, Nelly; Mujugira, Andrew; Magaret, Amalia; Baeten, Jared; Bukusi, Elizabeth A; Cohen, Craig R; Katabira, Elly; Ronald, Allan; +28 more... Kiarie, James; Farquhar, Carey; Stewart, Grace John; Makhema, Joseph; Essex, M; Were, Edwin; Fife, Kenneth; Debruyn, Guy; Gray, Glenda; McIntyre, James; Manongi, Rachel; Kapiga, Saidi; Coetzee, David; Allen, Susan; Inambao, Mubiana; Kayitenkore, Kayitesi; Karita, Etienne; Kanweka, William; Delany, Sinead; Rees, Helen; Vwalika, Bellington; Coombs, Robert W; Morrow, Rhoda; Whittington, William; Corey, Lawrence; Wald, Anna; Celum, Connie; Partners HSV-2/HIV-1 Transmission Study Team; (2009) Characteristics of HIV-1 discordant couples enrolled in a trial of HSV-2 suppression to reduce HIV-1 transmission: the partners study. PLOS ONE, 4 (4). e5272-. ISSN 1932-6203 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005272
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Partners HSV-2/HIV-1 Transmission Study (Partners Study) is a phase III, placebo-controlled trial of daily acyclovir for genital herpes (HSV-2) suppression among HIV-1/HSV-2 co-infected persons to reduce HIV-1 transmission to their HIV-1 susceptible partners, which requires recruitment of HIV-1 serodiscordant heterosexual couples. We describe the baseline characteristics of this cohort. METHODS: HIV-1 serodiscordant heterosexual couples, in which the HIV-1 infected partner was HSV-2 seropositive, had a CD4 count >or=250 cells/mcL and was not on antiretroviral therapy, were enrolled at 14 sites in East and Southern Africa. Demographic, behavioral, clinical and laboratory characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 3408 HIV-1 serodiscordant couples enrolled, 67% of the HIV-1 infected partners were women. Couples had cohabitated for a median of 5 years (range 2-9) with 28% reporting unprotected sex in the month prior to enrollment. Among HIV-1 susceptible participants, 86% of women and 59% of men were HSV-2 seropositive. Other laboratory-diagnosed sexually transmitted infections were uncommon (<5%), except for Trichomonas vaginalis in 14% of HIV-1 infected women. Median baseline CD4 count for HIV-1 infected participants was 462cells/mcL and median HIV-1 plasma RNA was 4.2 log(10) copies/mL. After adjusting for age and African region, correlates of HIV-1 RNA level included male gender (+0.24 log(10) copies/mL; p<0.001) and CD4 count (-0.25 and -0.55 log(10) copies/mL for CD4 350-499 and >500 relative to <350, respectively, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Partners Study successfully enrolled a cohort of 3408 heterosexual HIV-1 serodiscordant couples in Africa at high risk for HIV-1 transmission. Follow-up of this cohort will evaluate the efficacy of acyclovir for HSV-2 suppression in preventing HIV-1 transmission and provide insights into biological and behavioral factors determining heterosexual HIV-1 transmission. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00194519.
Item Type | Article |
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Faculty and Department | Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology |
PubMed ID | 19404392 |
Elements ID | 96111 |
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Filename: Lingappa_etal_2009_Characteristics-of-HIV-1-Discordant-Couples.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0
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