Nothing wrong with a little hope. Here's another story.

From the Journal of the American Society of Hematology:

Abstract:
HIV entry into CD4+ cells requires interaction with a cellular receptor, generally either CCR5 or CXCR4. We have previously reported the case of an HIV-infected patient in whom viral replication remained absent despite discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy after transplantation with CCR5{Delta}32/{Delta}32 stem cells. However, it was expected that the long-lived viral reservoir would lead to HIV rebound and disease progression during the process of immune reconstitution. In the present study, we demonstrate successful reconstitution of CD4+ T cells at the systemic level as well as in the gut mucosal immune system following CCR5{Delta}32/{Delta}32 stem cell transplantation, while the patient remains without any sign of HIV infection. This was observed although recovered CD4+ T cells contain a high proportion of activated memory CD4+ T cells, i.e. the preferential targets of HIV, and are susceptible to productive infection with CXCR4-tropic HIV. Furthermore, during the process of immune reconstitution, we found evidence for the replacement of long-lived host tissue cells with donor-derived cells indicating that the size of the viral reservoir has been reduced over time. In conclusion, our results strongly suggest that cure of HIV has been achieved in this patient.


(Bonus points if you send me the full article!)

First this treatment is years away, so I couldn't count on it being FDA approved in the near future.

Second, a stem cell transplant can kill you! You would require chemotherapy. The chemo can destroy your organs, causing liver, kidney, and lung failure. You have the complications of mucusitis. Then there is the requirement of ATG, which will detroy any cells left in the body after the chemotherapy. ATG side effects include convultions and high temps (104 and up). The chemo that is used, is not the same as rounds used for cancers. These are very high doses of lethal drugs.
Let's not forget the need for medications that will counter all the chemo/atg. The loss of ability to eat so you require TPN, which is hard on the liver and kidneys.

The list of danger from a stem cell/cord blood/bone marrow transplant is endless. So stay covered up and don't be stupid!

I wasn't suggesting it was simple (or that a cure was just around the corner) by any means. I just found it interesting And though stem cell transplantation is life-threatening, so is HIV!

-- Modified on 12/14/2010 3:10:51 PM

With antiviral therapy an HIV infected individual can live a normal life span.  Stem cell transplantation of HIV is far more life threatening than treating HIV with antivirals. Moreover their is probably no worst way to die than with graft vs host disease that can occur after stem cell transplant.

I will review this article in detail as I take care of HIV patients.
What remains to be seen is what is the duration of response from stem cell rx.
ie. does HIV replication re-cur from dormant areas, such as reticuloendothelial system, etc.
Just as hepatitis C can be "cured", then recurr few months or a year later.

Magic Johnson, can afford to pay for the drugs given to him. He can also afford to lead a healthy lifestyle which includes eating right and exercise.. It is not uncommon at all in today's world to live 25 years with HIV before developing AIDS.. The two are similiar one causes the other but, Having HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Much like having one of the 20 plus virus's of Genital warts which depending upon the type causes cervical cancer in women.....

Posted By: sweetamanda

I wasn't suggesting it was simple (or that a cure was just around the corner) by any means. I just found it interesting And though stem cell transplantation is life-threatening, so is HIV!

-- Modified on 12/14/2010 3:10:51 PM

...was the subtext that the singular patient involved in this story was a unique combination of factors and that it did NOT seem to lead to a path for a general cure for HIV. He was suffering from leukemia, had undergone extensive chemotherapy and had a number of other factors involved in his case being unique.

Of course, you never know where things might lead and a researcher might gain a valuable insight form studying what was involved here.

Another interesting thing is that a small percentage of people infected with HIV (5-8% maybe?) NEVER develop AIDS as their bodies fight off the virus. If I recall right, the virus always stays in their bodies, but it's in minuscule amounts.

Ok, I will. No he does not have the cure.