No role of herpes simplex virus type 2 [HSV-2] infection on HIV progression in naive HIV patients

ABSTRACT

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 [HSV-2] is a common infection in human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] patients and may accelerate HIV progression by rising HIV viral load and decreasing CD4 count. However, the available data regarding the influence of HSV-2 seropositivity on HIV progression in HIV individuals are inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to determine HSV-2 seroprevalence in naive HIV patients and normal controls and also investigate the relation of HIV viral load and CD4 count with HSV-2 seropositivity. Subsequently, we investigated the association of HSV-2 serostatus with changing in CD4 count and HIV viral load in our subjects, after one year follow-up