High cumulative incidence of genital herpes amongst HIV-1 seropositive heterosexuals in south London.

The cumulative incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in a cohort of 51 (35 female, 16 male) HIV-1 seropositive STD clinic attenders who had acquired HIV-1 infection via heterosexual transmission was investigated through a retrospective review of the case notes. The women were followed up for a mean 11.6 months and the men for 18 months. Thirty-one (88%) of the women and 13 (81%) of the men were of sub-Saharan African origin. Approximately half of the subjects were first diagnosed as HIV-1 positive with CD4 counts < 200 x 10(6)/1 and a quarter with CD4 counts < 50 x 10(6)/1. STDs detected in women were: genital herpes 15 (43%), candida 12 (34%), bacterial vaginosis 9 (25%), and in men: genital herpes 6 (38%), non-gonococcal urethritis 4 (25%). No cases of gonorrhoea were detected. At the time of first diagnosis of genital herpes at the clinic, the mean CD4 count in women was 275 x 10(6)/1 and in men 285 x 10(6)/1. Genital herpes was the AIDS defining diagnosis in 3 of the women. The recognized risk of HIV transmission via genital lesions should be stressed in HIV-1 positive subjects with genital herpes. The incidence of other STD was low--both knowledge of HIV status and safer sex counselling may limit unsafe sexual behaviour and should be evaluated further as a strategy for limiting the spread of HIV-1 infection.