Impact of CMV therapy with valganciclovir on immune activation and the HIV viral load in semen and blood: an observational clinical study.

Background:The HIV RNA viral load (VL) in vaginal secretions and semen is an independent predictor of HIV transmission. Blood VL is associated with semen VL, and local mucosal factors, such as semen cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation, may play an important role.Methods:Twenty-one HIV-CMV–coinfected,