In what appears to be a world first, a man has been cured of HIV. The case was first reported at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections that took place in Boston in February of this year. Following a story in The Wall Street Journal on Friday, November 11, amFAR (previously called the American Foundation for AIDS Research) released a report on November 5 from its scientific team outlining details and initial stages of verification of the case.
According to amFAR’s report, the man, who had previously been on HAART treatment (one of the standard drug cocktails used to treat HIV) for several years, is described as ‘functionally cured’ of HIV. That means, to the current extent of medical science’s ability to detect HIV in the body, he has had no detectable sign of HIV and has been off anti-HIV medication for almost two years.
The cure came after the man received an innovative treatment for acute leukaemia. As well as receiving radiation and chemotherapy, the man’s physicians performed a stem cell transplant using a donor with a genetic variation that is resistant to HIV. The naturally occurring mutation, known as delta32-CCR5, occurs in 1.5% of the American and European Caucasian population.
While the case provides hope of a potential cure for HIV, it is important to note that it is as of yet an isolated case – it has not been replicated. The stem-cell transplant, an operation that carries notable risk, can cost as much as $250,000. Furthermore, as this is the only case so far, doctors and scientists cannot identify which element or elements of the treatment were key for the elimination of the HIV virus and questions remain as to whether stem cell treatment alone is sufficient, or whether the rare delta32-CCR5 mutation is essential to functionally curing someone of the HIV virus.
The full report by amFAR’s Senior Scientific Consultant, Dr Jeffrey Laurence, M.D can be found at www.amfar.org/cgi-bin/iowa/programs/resrch/record.html?record=71
