Did Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Roll-Out Influence the Epidemic of Rectal Lymphogranuloma Venereum in Belgium? Results From the National Surveillance System.

Background: An increase of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in HIV negative men who have sex with men is reported in several European countries including Belgium before the implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Setting: The epidemiological characteristics of the male rectal LGV epidemic in Belgium were explored before and after the introduction of PrEP.

Methods: Segmented regression models were used to examine a change in trends before and after the introduction of PrEP in the male rectal LGV epidemic in Belgium and among men attending a large HIV/sexually transmitted infection clinic in Antwerp, Belgium.