Second Person Declared ‘Cured’ of HIV, With No Trace of Infection After Nearly 3 Years – ScienceAlert
Posted: March 16, 2020 at 2:44 pm
A second patient has been cured of HIV after undergoing stem cell transplant treatment, doctors said Tuesday, after finding no trace of infection 30 months after he stopped traditional treatment.
The so-called "London Patient", a cancer sufferer originally from Venezuela, made headlines last year when researchers at the University of Cambridge reported they had found no trace of the AIDS-causing virus in his blood for 18 months.
Ravindra Gupta, lead author of the study published in The Lancet HIV, said the new test results were "even more remarkable" and likely demonstrated the patient was cured.
"We've tested a sizeable set of sites that HIV likes to hide in and they are all pretty much negative for an active virus," Gupta told AFP.
The patient, who revealed his identity this week as Adam Castillejo, 40, was diagnosed with HIV in 2003 and had been on medication to keep the disease in check since 2012.
Later that year, he was diagnosed with advanced Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a deadly cancer.
In 2016 he underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat blood cancer, receiving stem cells from donors with a genetic mutation present in less than one percent of Europeans that prevents HIV from taking hold.
He becomes only the second person to be cured of HIV after American Timothy Brown, known as the "Berlin Patient", recovered from HIV in 2011 following similar treatment.
Viral tests of Castillejo's cerebral fluid, intestinal tissue and lymphoid tissue more than two years after stopping antiretroviral treatment showed no active infection.
Gupta said the tests uncovered HIV "fossils" - fragments of the virus that were now incapable of reproducing, and were therefore safe.
"We'd expect that," he said.
"It's quite hard to imagine that all trace of a virus that infects billions of cells was eliminated from the body."
Researchers cautioned that the breakthrough did not constitute a generalised cure for HIV, which leads to nearly one million deaths every year.
Castillejo's treatment was a "last resort" as his blood cancer would likely have killed him without intervention, according to Gupta.
The Cambridge doctor said that there were "several other" patients who had undergone similar treatment but who were less far along in their remission.
"There will probably be more but they will take time," he said.
Researchers are currently weighing up whether or not patients suffering from drug-resistant forms of HIV might be eligible for stem cell transplants in future, something Gupta said would require careful ethical consideration.
"You'd have to weigh up the fact that there's a 10-percent mortality rate from doing a stem-cell transplant against what the risk of death would be if we did nothing," he said.
Castillejo himself said that the experience had prompted him to come forward and identify himself in order to help spread awareness of HIV.
This is a unique position to be in, a unique and very humbling position," he told The New York Times.
Sharon Lewin, an infectious disease expert at the University of Melbourne and member of the International AIDS Society, said Castillejo's case was "exciting".
"But we need to also place it in context - curing people of HIV via a bone marrow transplant is just not a viable option on any kind of scale," she said.
"We need to constantly reiterate the importance of, prevention, early testing and treatment adherence as the pillars of the current global response to HIV/AIDS."
Agence France-Presse
Read the rest here:
Second Person Declared 'Cured' of HIV, With No Trace of Infection After Nearly 3 Years - ScienceAlert
- Bone Marrow Stem Cells [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2011]
- Stem cells in bone marrow are being used to treat EB [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2011]
- Stem cells in bone marrow are being used to treat EB [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2011]
- Peripheral Artery Disease: Can Progenitor Cells Help? [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Producing Insulin [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2011]
- Stem Cells Reversing Endothelial Senescence [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2011]
- Peripheral Artery Disease: Can Progenitor Cells Help? [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2011]
- Science behind Enhancing Adult Stem Cells for wellbeing [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Stem Cell Applications [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2011]
- Immune Modulation by Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2011]
- Expansion of Stem Cells by Valproic Acid [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2011]
- STEM CELLS FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION Sam Smith's story.wmv [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2011]
- StemLife's First Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant Recipient [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Differentiation to Heart? YES [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2011]
- STEM CELLS FOR OTHER USES Interview with Sam Smith.wmv [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2011]
- StemLife's First Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant Recipient [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2011]
- Bone marrow transplantation HD, ENG subtitles [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2011]
- Cord Blood and Bone Marrow Stem Cells for Liver Failure [Last Updated On: July 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 4th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Stem Cell Applications [Last Updated On: July 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 4th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Producing Insulin [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Stem Cell Donation [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cells May Target and Repair Heart Attack Damage [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2011]
- Stem cells used for medical treatment [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2011]
- Bone marrow transplantation HD, ENG subtitles [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cells May Target and Repair Heart Attack Damage [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2011]
- From Surgical Repair to Stem Cell Repair: A Surgeon's Journey by Leonard Smith MD, FACS [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2011]
- STEM CELLS - Bone Marrow Stem Cells (Balzitt).flv [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2011]
- Spirulina DLA Naturals [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2011]
- Spirulina DLA Naturals [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2011]
- Insidermedicine In 60 - January 6, 2011 [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2011]
- Christian Drapeau Talk About - Adult Stem Cells and StemEnhance./StemTech [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2011]
- The potential of stem cells [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2011]
- Insidermedicine In 60 - March 11, 2011 [Last Updated On: July 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 20th, 2011]
- Blind Girl get's cure you need to see to believe" [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2011]
- STEM CELLS - Bone Marrow Stem Cells (Balzitt).flv [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2011]
- Expansion of Stem Cells by Valproic Acid [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2011]
- Blind Girl get's cure you need to see to believe" [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2011]
- LifeCell in Kalaignar Seithigal,Sun News [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2011]
- Science behind Enhancing Adult Stem Cells for wellbeing [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2011]
- Why treatment results vary after stem cell treatment [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2011]
- From Surgical Repair to Stem Cell Repair: A Surgeon's Journey by Leonard Smith MD, FACS [Last Updated On: August 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 3rd, 2011]
- Insidermedicine In 60 - March 11, 2011 [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Why STEM-Enhance? [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2011]
- Stem cells Transplatation in Completed Paralyze Dog. [Last Updated On: August 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 12th, 2011]
- Stem cells Transplatation in Completed Paralyze Dog. [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2011]
- Best natural skin care serum using stem cell technology [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2011]
- "Bone Marrow Stem Cells" Donald Kohn [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2011]
- The potential of stem cells [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2011]
- Manatee man is paralyzed, but still plenty hopeful [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Stem Cells and Bone Marrow Transplants by Dipnarine Maharaj MD PhD [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- MS Cure - Introduction to stem cell bone marrow transplant in Australia [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplantation: An Introduction, With Sonali Smith, MD [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Cancer Update: Autologus Stem Cell (Bone Marrow) Transplant [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Live from Top US Hospital [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Mobilization from Bone Marrow (Animation) [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow / Stem Cell Transplant Recovery Fund [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Stem Cell Expansion by HOXB4 and p21 Knock Out [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Mobilization from Bone Marrow (Animation) [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2011]
- Macular Degeneration Improved With Stem Cells [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Transplant India,Bone Marrow Transplant India,Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment India [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2011]
- Nurses Discuss Special Bonds With Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Patients [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2011]
- Becoming a Blood Stem Cell Donor [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Patients Share Their Stories [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2011]
- LittleBigPlanet 2 - (WIP) Stem Cell Sackboy Bone Marrow Bugaloo [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2011]
- LittleBigPlanet 2 - Stem Cell Sackboy Quarter 4 Update (Bone Marrow Bugaloo) [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program Continues to Grow, Make a Difference [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Can Stem Cell Prolotherapy or Bone Marrow Prolotherapy help articular cartilage defects? [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Multiple Sclerosis, Stem Cells, and Hope, Part 2 [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program Continues to Grow, Make a Difference [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- How to be an Anthony Nolan blood stem cell donor [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Stem Cells extracted from bone marrow [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Calum's stem cell donation for Anthony Nolan [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Cancer Update: Autologus Stem Cell (Bone Marrow) Transplant [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Bone Marrow - Stem Cell Prolotherapy [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Stem Cell Aspiration and Re-Injection with PRP for Osteoarthritis by Dr Adelson [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Mesenchymal stem cells and marrow stromal cells---2nd--- [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Injections - Bone Marrow Prolotherapy - treatment for arthritis [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Chat w/ Dr. Maharaj, founder of S. FL. Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant Institute [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]