Background: Herpes virus can cause sores on the body. It can cause flu-like symptoms like fever and muscle aches, and even a type of cancer. Many people with HIV also have infections with herpes virus. When these people start taking HIV medicines, their herpes virus symptoms can suddenly start or become worse. Researchers want to find out more about how often this happens and why. Objective: To study the effects of HIV treatment in women who may have herpes virus infections. Eligibility: Women age 18 years and older who have been diagnosed with HIV infection. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical exam, medical history, and blood and urine tests. Participants will have about 8 study visits. Each will take about 1-2 hours. Participants will return to the clinic 1-2 weeks after the screening visit to receive their antiretroviral (ART) medicine. They will get instructions for taking it. Participants will have 6 more study visits over 1 year. During study visits, participants will have blood and urine tests, vaginal fluid collected, and an oral swab. They may have an external genital exam. They will get their next supply of ART medicine. Some participants may have a chest x-ray. Participants may have leukapheresis. Blood will be removed through a needle in an arm. It will be run through a machine that separates out the white blood cells. The rest of the blood will be returned through a needle in the other arm. The total time participants will be in the study is about 1 year.
Age range
18 Years – 99 Years
Sex
FEMALE
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Compare the prevalence of herpetic disease, demonstrated by viral shedding of HSV-1 and 2 in the vaginal secretions of HIV-positive women prior to and 4 and 8 weeks after ART initiation.
Timeframe: prior to and at 4 and 8 weeks after inititian of antiretroviral treatment