Herpes simplex virus shedding and plasma human immunodeficiency virus RNA levels in coinfected women

Asymptomatic herpes simplex virus (HSV) shedding was described in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women, and the association o f HSV shedding with changes in plasma HIV RNA load was investigated. Genita l, rectal, and oral swabs were obtained daily during a 4-week period for po lymerase chain reaction and culture, and concomitant plasma specimens were drawn 3 times weekly for determination of HIV RNA load. During the study, 7 0% and 79% of subjects shed HSV from the oral cavity and genital area, resp ectively. Shedding of HSV occurred for a mean of 3.2 days for oral shedding and 5.4 days for genital shedding. Mean plasma HIV RNA loads during period s of HSV shedding and nonshedding and for periods 3 days after the cessatio n of shedding were compared; no significant differences were found (P=.74). In women who shed HSV, as evaluated by detection of virus, plasma HIV RNA load did not fluctuate with HSV shedding.