Autoimmune disease and suppressive therapy

[catgirl]

Hi,
I was diagnosed with HSV-2 12 years ago. I’m asymptomatic but am interested in going on suppressive therapy to reduce the risk of transmitting it to a new sexual partner.

I also was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (Grave’s disease) a few years ago. I had radioactive treatment for the Grave’s disease and am now on supplementary thyroid medication. Beyond that, I try to stay pretty ‘natural’ in my approach (for example, using diet and stress management) and it’s going well (no symptoms).

I’m wondering if there is any concern with going on suppressive antiviral medication when you have an autoimmune disease?

Thanks so much in advance!

[Terri Warren]

I would like to ask how you were diagnosed with HSV-2 if you are asymptomatic. Was this a blood antibody test? If yes, what was the index value associated with your positive test? If it was below 3.5 and you are still asymptomatic, I would recommend a confirmatory test.

Assuming for a moment that you are infected, there is no problem taking antiviral medicine to reduce the risk of transmission while having this autoimmune disease.

Please speak with your physician to confirm that they do not see this as a problem.

Terri

[catgirl]

Thank you! I’ve been tested three times, with blood tests (I believe IGG – definitely not Western Blot). The first two tests were over a decade ago and I don’t know the index values, but I was just tested again since I couldn’t remember if it were HSV1 or 2. My HSV2 IGG came back at 4.45 (HSV1 was negative).

Am I correct in communicating to a new (male) partner that the risk of transmission is likely very low (1-2% annually) given 1) the at minimum 12-13 years since transmission, 2) that transmission is less efficient going from female to male, 3) if I’m on suppressive therapy, and 4) we use condoms?

Thank you!

[Terri Warren]

If you have had no symptoms, I would suggest you consider getting a confirmatory test done. It is certainly possible and even likely that you are infected but no symptoms for hSV 2 for 12 years? Kind of unlikely!
Your statistics are correct, yes.

Terri

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