AEGiS-BAR: PEP study finds people will seek, stick to treatment

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

PEP study finds people will seek, stick to treatment

Bay Area Reporter - May 18, 2001
David Fraser

People exposed to HIV through sex or IV drug use will seek preventative PEP treatment within three days if given the opportunity, a new study from the University of California, San Francisco finds.

They'll also stick with the medication regimen despite side effects, a crucial factor in treating HIV disease.

"Our study demonstrates that you can get people to come in after they have been exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injection drug use," said lead author Dr. James Kahn, a UCSF associate professor of medicine. "In fact, those with the highest risk of HIV infection will show up."

The study was conducted by the UCSF Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital's Tom Waddell Clinic and the STD Clinic of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

It focused on 401 people seeking PEP - or post-exposure prophylaxis - which should be undertaken within 72 hours of potential exposure. The UCSF program provided a four-week course of antiretroviral medications, and one-on-one risk reduction and medication adherence counseling.

With 78 percent of participants completing the study, none was HIV-infected six months later. Kahn warned about reading too much into the low seroconversion rate.

The study, published in the March 1 issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, also said its findings do not mean that PEP works.

New study under way

Kahn's study, PEP 1, was conducted in San Francisco in 1997-1999. A second study, PEP 2, is currently under way to determine whether standard two-visit counseling is as effective as enhanced five-visit counseling for reducing risk behavior.

Dr. Michelle Roland, the co-principal investigator, encourages participation by people over 14 years old who can commit to a full year of follow-up in San Francisco. PEP 2 will provide free HIV testing, counseling, and medications for the 28-day treatment.

The new study especially welcomes sexual or IV drug use partners. Possible exposure must have occurred within the previous 72 hours of joining the study, and there are other requirements for participation. For more information, call (415) 514-4737.
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