Question
Was the stem cell transplant cure just another myth?
12 August 2008. Related: All topics, Cure.
Hey,
I just want to thank you for this wonderful resource and for all previous info.
I recently read that medics are looking at bone marrow transplants as a future treatment. Apparently this has cleared the HIV in one individual already who also had leukemia. Following marrow transplant and radiotherapy his viral load was nil and remained nil.
I’m just wondering if this is the case or its just another urban myth?
Answer
Actually, this time it is not. The transplantation, however, is not exactly a bone marrow, but allogeneic transplant of peripheral stem cells (alloSCT) with an HLA-matched donor, selected to be homozygous for CCR5-delta 32 (which is difficult for HIV to infect). This case is reported in detail here.
But again, a word of caution, so far we are talking only about one person. The future will show whether this approach is feasible. Hope this helps.
There are good reports of the case in
Comment