HSV-2 Suppression to Reduce Maternal HIV-1 RNA Levels During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

NCT ID: NCT00530777

Last Updated: 2018-12-19

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

148 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2008-04-30

Study Completion Date

2010-08-31

Brief Summary

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In this study, we will determine whether treating pregnant and breastfeeding women co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) with daily valacyclovir will reduce HIV-1 levels in plasma, genital, and breast milk and will decrease the risk of mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission (MTCT).

Detailed Description

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Each year over 500,000 children become HIV-1-infected in sub-Saharan Africa after exposure to maternal virus in blood, genital secretions, and breast milk. Identifying feasible, safe, and affordable interventions that prevent mother-to-child transmission remains a priority for HIV-1 prevention research. Interventions to reduce breast milk HIV-1 transmission are lacking and most urgently needed.

We propose a randomized clinical trial to determine whether incorporating HSV-2 suppression with valacyclovir into standard prevention of mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission regimens will reduce plasma, cervical, and breast milk HIV-1 RNA levels and risk of transmission among HIV-1-infected and HSV-2-seropositive women. We plan to enroll a total of 148 HIV-1 and HSV-2 co-infected pregnant women with CD4\>200 cells/μl who seek antenatal care prior to 32 weeks gestation at a clinic in Nairobi, Kenya. Women will be randomized to receive either valacyclovir suppressive therapy or placebo at 34 weeks gestation and mother-infant pairs will be followed for 12 months postpartum. Follow-up visits will be scheduled at 38 weeks gestation; birth; 2, 6, 10 and 14 weeks; and 6, 9, and 12 months postpartum. Maternal blood, genital, and breast milk specimens obtained at follow-up visits will be used to determine the effect of valacyclovir suppressive therapy on plasma and breast milk HIV-1 RNA levels. Infant filter paper specimens for HIV-1 DNA assays will be collected at birth; 2, 6, 10 and 14 weeks; and 6, 9, and 12 months in order to compare the proportion of infants acquiring HIV-1 by 12 months in the two study arms and determine the timing of HIV-1 infection. In addition, we will monitor maternal and infant renal function in preparation for a larger randomized clinical trial in Africa. The results of this study will help guide the design of a multi-site clinical trial with adequate power to determine the effect of HSV-2 suppression on vertical (MTCT) transmission of HIV-1 infection.

Conditions

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HIV Infections Herpes Simplex

Keywords

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Disease Transmission, Vertical valacyclovir Randomized Controlled Trials HIV herpes Herpesvirus 2, Human HIV Seronegativity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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1

500 mg oral valacyclovir twice daily from 34 weeks gestation to 1 year postpartum

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

valacyclovir

Intervention Type DRUG

500 mg oral valacyclovir twice daily from 34 weeks gestation to 1 year postpartum

2

oral placebo twice daily from 34 weeks gestation to 1 year postpartum

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

oral placebo twice daily from 34 weeks gestation to 1 year postpartum

Interventions

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valacyclovir

500 mg oral valacyclovir twice daily from 34 weeks gestation to 1 year postpartum

Intervention Type DRUG

placebo

oral placebo twice daily from 34 weeks gestation to 1 year postpartum

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Valtrex

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* HIV-1 seropositive
* HSV-2 seropositive
* Plans to deliver in Nairobi
* Resides and plans to remain in Nairobi for 12 months postpartum
* 18 years of age or older
* CD4 count\>250 cells/μl

Exclusion Criteria

* indication for highly active antiretroviral therapy (e.g., WHO stage III or IV)
* hypersensitivity to valacyclovir or acyclovir
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Royalty Research Fund - University of Washington

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Puget Sound Partners for Global Health

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Washington

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Carey Farquhar

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Carey Farquhar, MD, MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Washington

Locations

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Mathare North City Clinic

Nairobi, , Kenya

Site Status

Countries

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Kenya

References

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Other Identifiers

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07-7306-A01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

R03HD057773

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

32462

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id