Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Recurrence of genital herpes
RCT	300 women with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), HIV positive, and not receiving antiretroviral treatment	Proportion of women with at least 1 episode of genital ulcer disease up to 3 months 11/146 (8%) with aciclovir (400 mg given twice-daily for 3 months) 25/142 (18%) with placebo	RR 0.43 95% CI 0.22 to 0.84 P = 0.01	Moderate effect size	aciclovir
RCT	214 women (Zimbabwean sex workers) with HIV Subgroup analysis	Recurrent symptomatic genital ulceration up to 3 months 0/69 with aciclovir (400 mg given twice-daily for 3 months) 0/56 with placebo	Significance not assessed The RCT was underpowered to detect a clinically important difference between groups as there were fewer than expected HIV-positive women in the study
RCT	440 people with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and HIV positive	Prevalence of symptomatic genital ulcer disease at up to 24 months with aciclovir (400 mg given twice-daily for 3 months) with placebo Absolute results not reported	Adjusted prevalence rate ratio 0.42 95% CI 0.23 to 0.74 P value not reported See Further information on studies	Moderate effect size	aciclovir