Philippe Mayaud, Chloe Thio and Hoosen Coovadia - 1 September 2007

In this programme, presented by Peter Goodwin:

Herpes Simplex Therapy Reduces HIV Activity in Co-Infected Patients It is possible to reduce HIV activity in patients who are co-infected with HIV and herpes simplex type 2 by treating them with an anti-herpes agent. Philippe Mayaud talked with Peter Goodwin about his multi-centre study published in the New England Journal of Medicine which found reduced HIV concentrations in blood and vaginal samples when co-infected patients underwent continuous treatment with valacyclovir.

Entecavir Helps Combat HIV But Also Selects Antiretroviral Resistance Mutation Entecavir (used to treat hepatitis B) lowered levels of HIV in co-infected patients according to a study presented at the Los Angeles Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infection. In spite of this success, investigator Chloe Thio told Dan Keller that the drug selects a mutation making HIV resistant to entecavir as well as to antiretroviral drugs, and that this calls for a revision of guidelines that recommend its use in co-infected patients.

Breastfeeding Reduces Transmission Rates From Mothers With HIV While stopping breastfeeding early reduces HIV transmission to the baby, a new study, also presented at the Los Angeles conference, found it increased infant morbidity and mortality. Hoosen Coovadia told Dan Keller they found that exclusive breastfeeding (as opposed to 'mixed' breastfeeding including formula or supplements) for the first six months of life reduced HIV transmission rates.