%0 Journal Article
%T Characteristics of HIV-1 Discordant Couples Enrolled in a Trial of HSV-2 Suppression to Reduce HIV-1 Transmission: The Partners Study
%A Jairam R. Lingappa
%A Erin Kahle
%A Nelly Mugo
%A Andrew Mujugira
%A Amalia Magaret
%A Jared Baeten
%A Elizabeth A. Bukusi
%A Craig R. Cohen
%A Elly Katabira
%A Allan Ronald
%A James Kiarie
%A Carey Farquhar
%A Grace John Stewart
%A Joseph Makhema
%A M. Essex
%A Edwin Were
%A Kenneth Fife
%A Guy deBruyn
%A Glenda Gray
%A James McIntyre
%A Rachel Manongi
%A Saidi Kapiga
%A David Coetzee
%A Susan Allen
%A Mubiana Inambao
%A Kayitesi Kayitenkore
%A Etienne Karita
%A William Kanweka
%A Sinead Delany
%A Helen Rees
%A Bellington Vwalika
%A Robert W. Coombs
%A Rhoda Morrow
%A William Whittington
%A Lawrence Corey
%A Anna Wald
%A Connie Celum
%A for the Partners HSV-2/HIV-1 Transmission Study Team
%J PLOS ONE
%D 2009
%I Public Library of Science (PLoS)
%R 10.1371/journal.pone.0005272
%X 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 ¡Ý250 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¨C9) 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 log10 copies/mL. After adjusting for age and African region, correlates of HIV-1 RNA level included male gender (+0.24 log10 copies/mL; p<0.001) and CD4 count (£¿0.25 and £¿0.55 log10 copies/mL for CD4 350¨C499 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
%U http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0005272