ArticleSexually transmitted infections2003
Is HSV serology useful for the management of first episode genital herpes?
Article in Sexually transmitted infections, 2003. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 45 citations in OpenAlex.
- British Association of Sexual Health and HIV UK national guideline for the management of anogenital herpes, 2024.International journal of STD & AIDS · 2025Guideline
- Viral reactivations and co-infections in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review.BMC infectious diseases · 2023Pooled it
- Causal relationships between antibody-induced immune responses and sepsis: Evidence from genetic studies.Medicine · 2026Article
- Southern African HIV Clinicians Society 2022 guideline for the management of sexually transmitted infections: Moving towards best practice.Southern African journal of HIV medicine · 2022Article
- Chitosan as an Immunomodulating Adjuvant on T-Cells and Antigen-Presenting Cells in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection.Mediators of inflammation · 2016Article
- Optimal management of genital herpes: current perspectives.Infection and drug resistance · 2016Review
- Highly active antiretroviral therapy is associated with decreased incidence of sexually transmitted diseases in a Taiwanese HIV-positive population.AIDS patient care and STDs · 2013Article
- Genital HSV-1 infections.Sexually transmitted infections · 2006Article
- Increase in rates of herpes simplex virus type 1 as a cause of anogenital herpes in western Sydney, Australia, between 1979 and 2003.Sexually transmitted infections · 2006Article
- Co-infection of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 and HIV Infections among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria.Journal of global infectious diseasesArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFirst episode genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections can be classified into three groups, primary genital herpes (no previous exposure to HSV), non-primary first episode (IgG antibody to HSV of the non-presenting type), and first episode with pre-existing IgG HSV antibodies. The use of IgM to classify first episode genital herpes has not been evaluated.
objectiveTo evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgM antibodies for the diagnosis of first episode genital herpes, when compared with clinical diagnosis.
methodsPatients with a first clinical episode of genital herpes were recruited. Sera were tested for IgG antibodies to HSV-2 using an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Equivocal results were resolved by western blot. HSV-1 IgG and IgM and HSV-2 IgM antibodies were detected using western blot.
results157 patients were recruited. 31 were excluded (missing data or no detectable antibodies and negative viral isolation). Therefore, 126 patients were included in the analysis. 23 (18.3%) had primary genital herpes, 34 (27.0%) non-primary first episode, and 69 (54.8%) had pre-existing genital herpes. The specificity and PPV of HSV IgM was 100%; the sensitivity was 79% and the NPV 85%.
conclusionIgM HSV serology may be useful in the management of some patients with first episode genital herpes and provide an indication of the source of infection. Drawbacks include the low sensitivity and NPV, lack of availability, IgM antibodies may occasionally be produced in response to recurrent infection and, finally, IgM antibodies may take up to 10 days to develop and last 7-10 days.
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