A case report: recurrent anemia related to long term acyclovir use in a pregnant HIV infected Ugandan

Abstract: This case report describes a pregnant patient with recent diagnosis of Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) infection initiated on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) in the second trimester, as well as high dose acyclovir high for large infected genital warts. She had no other HIV related opportunistic infections, and no prior anti tuberculosis treatment or preventive medication. Despite little response to acyclovir, patient was continuing on acyclovir for over 4 months. She subsequently developed recurrent anemia requiring frequent transfusion (14 units in total) over a 6-week period. On stopping acyclovir, the anemia subsided, a few weeks later she had a normal delivery, followed by surgical removal of the warts. At a follow-up 8 months later, she was well, with a healthy baby, and reported no other episodes of blood transfusion. Keywords: Recurrent anemia; acyclovir; herpes genitalis; HIV; ART.