News: Have doctors found the cure for HIV?
Updated: Dec. 15, 2010
A medical journal published by the American Society of Hematology called Blood has released a new study that claims an
A medical journal published by the American Society of Hematology called Blood has released a new study that claims an HIV-positive patient was cured of the disease following a 2007 stem cell transplant.
The patient, 42-year-old Timothy Ray Brown, received a stem cell transplant while undergoing chemotherapy. According to the team of German researchers, "Our results strongly suggest that cure of HIV as been achieved in this patient." Brown has been living without the virus for three years, reports Fox News.
If these reports are correct, it could mean a serious breakthrough in the treatment of those living with HIV.
Update: Some doctors are saying that this won’t be a practical cure for most people living with HIV/AIDS. Here’s what one doctor told the Associated Press:
"It’s an interesting proof-of-concept that with pretty extraordinary measures a patient could be cured of HIV," but it is far too risky to become standard therapy even if matched donors could be found, said Dr. Michael Saag of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Related:
‘ Guest post: Why we should still care about HIV/AIDS
‘ 11 things every Canadian should know about HIV/AIDS
