It was once thought that HIV was untreatable. Now, a handful of people are now in HIV remission.
A 66-year-old man from the City of Hope received a blood cell transplant for the new treatment. He had lived with HIV for nearly half of his life and was one the few selected for treatment out of the 38 million people who were affected by HIV and AIDS.
The cells contained a rare genetic mutation called CCR5-delta 32. The mutation prevents the cells from getting infected by HIV by shutting off CCR5, the entrance the virus uses to launch its attack.
The patient told the Washington Post about how he felt after the treatment, “When I was diagnosed with HIV in 1988, like many others, I thought it was a death sentence, I never thought I would live to see the day that I no longer have HIV.”
Ever since the drug AZT was approved by the federal government in 1988, HIV treatment has slowly progressed. Various other drugs targeting HIV have been approved since then. As of now, a patient can take antiretroviral therapy and live up to for another 54 years.
The City of Hope patient still does antiretroviral therapy despite the transplant taken place over three years ago.
“He’s doing great. He’s in remission for HIV.” said Jana T. Dickter, a clinical professor.
Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2022/07/27/hiv-remission-stem-cell-transplant-city-of-hope/
A 66-year-old man from the City of Hope received a blood cell transplant for the new treatment. He had lived with HIV for nearly half of his life and was one the few selected for treatment out of the 38 million people who were affected by HIV and AIDS.
The cells contained a rare genetic mutation called CCR5-delta 32. The mutation prevents the cells from getting infected by HIV by shutting off CCR5, the entrance the virus uses to launch its attack.
The patient told the Washington Post about how he felt after the treatment, “When I was diagnosed with HIV in 1988, like many others, I thought it was a death sentence, I never thought I would live to see the day that I no longer have HIV.”
Ever since the drug AZT was approved by the federal government in 1988, HIV treatment has slowly progressed. Various other drugs targeting HIV have been approved since then. As of now, a patient can take antiretroviral therapy and live up to for another 54 years.
The City of Hope patient still does antiretroviral therapy despite the transplant taken place over three years ago.
“He’s doing great. He’s in remission for HIV.” said Jana T. Dickter, a clinical professor.
Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2022/07/27/hiv-remission-stem-cell-transplant-city-of-hope/
