Researchers Find Stem Cell Transplants May Achieve HIV Remission
During a presentation this week researchers from the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network presented new findings about HIV remission involving stem cell transplants.
In 2015, the team of researchers completed an observational study examining 25 participants living with HIV who underwent a transplant with cord blood stem cells, used typically for treatment of cancer and underlying diseases.
One woman with HIV received a transplant of what are called CCR5Δ32/Δ32 cord blood stem cells to treat acute myeloid leukemia and showed no detectable levels of HIV for 14 months. She is one of three known cases of individuals who have experienced HIV remission after receiving a stem cell transplant.
The first patient was a white male from Berlin, Germany, who experienced HIV remission for 12 years and a Latino male from London, England, who has been in HIV remission for more than 30 months.
According to data from the World Health Organization, HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed about 36 million lives so far.
“The third case of HIV remission suggests that CCR5Δ32/Δ32 cord stem cell transplantation should be considered to achieve HIV remission and [as a] cure for people living with HIV who require such a transplant for other diseases,” according to a written statement from the study team.
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