A Woman Is Cured of H.I.V. Using a Novel Treatment

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

A woman of mixed race appears to be the third person ever to be cured of H.I.V., using a new transplant method involving umbilical cord blood that opens up the possibility of curing more people of diverse racial backgrounds than was previously possible, scientists announced on Tuesday.

Cord blood is more widely available than the adult stem cells typically used in bone marrow transplants, and does not need to be matched as closely to the recipient. Most donors in registries are of Caucasian origin, so allowing for only a partial match has the potential to cure dozens of Americans who have both H.I.V. and cancer each year, scientists said.

The woman, who also had leukemia, received cord blood to treat her cancer. It came from a partially matched donor, instead of the typical practice of finding a bone marrow donor of similar race and ethnicity to the patient’s. She also received blood from a close relative to give her body temporary immune defenses while the transplant took.

Researchers presented some of the details of the new case on Tuesday at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Denver, Colo.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/health/hiv-cure-cord-blood.html

[pandr32]

1. Oh wow!

This could be a huge boon for many people who are suffering viruses (such as HIV) and diseases. Happy news.

[Lemon Lyman]

2. Wow

It read that she had leukemia too. They didn't talk about it much, as the article was about her HIV being cured. But it sounds like her cancer went into remission too ("had&quot . Holy smokes! Go girl!!

[Wounded Bear]

3. K & R...for medical science doing good things...nt

[No Vested Interest]

4. I have long wondered why cord blood is not more widely used.

So many possibilities; so much more readily available than other treatments.
I'm not even a scientist, but this screams out as so logical.

[Hekate]

11. Probably because, like organ donation, permission must be granted. nt

[No Vested Interest]

13. While permission would be needed, it's something most parents wouldn't and don't

give a second thought about.

I suppose another hindrance would be that a whole medical set-up would have to be arranged - storage, personnel, etc. Likely costly at first, but could pay huge benefits long-term.

[qazplm135]

5. I think in the next 20 years or so

a lot of diseases are going to be taken down or made manageable...especially cancer.

[Shermann]

15. Cancer is the price we pay for being multicellular organisms with DNA

I don't believe it will ever be totally eliminated.

[qazplm135]

16. I think it very well could be.

Saying never is a very long time.

We know that many animals are resistant to cancer.

A cure is going to take a long, long time and it won't be just one or even two avenues, but I think it's not something that's never going to be defeated.

[zanana1]

18. If a cure for cancer is found...

I think nature will find another way of attaining balance.

[ck4829]

19. Cancer isn't a force of balance

[qazplm135]

20. Cancer is not balance

And nature isn't an entity.

[flying_wahini]

6. I was offered a chance to save cord blood after my 2 deliveries 28- 33 years ago.

I remember it was $2000 with the first one. Too rich for our blood then. Now it would be a screaming deal at that price. No idea what it costs today.

[ananda]

7. Whoa! That's big....

happy smiley

[rurallib]

8. Feels like a game changer

Science scores again!

[llashram]

9. as a 4 year fight

to push my cancer into remission, if it acts up, maybe this will help. I'll ask my urologic surgeon.

[William769]

10. I have been HIV positive for 17 years

Wonder if I will see the cure in my lifetime.

[StevieM]

14. It feels like there is reason for optimisim.

A vaccine seems possible too.

[Retired Engineer Bob]

17. 26 years for me

The doctor told me about the new protease inhibitors that were now available. He asked if I would be interested in trying it. He had some reluctance in recommending it, I had just tested positive and had no symptoms, and drug side affects were unknown.

My 26 year old partner died of AIDS less than two years prior to this. I saw his progression from asymptotic, taking mass quantities of meds to fight off opportunistic infections, to ICU visits, to death.

So it took me about 10 seconds to consider my doctors suggestion. GIVE ME THE DAMNED PILLS! Viral counts have been zero, and T-cell counts 800-900 or so for the last two decades. I try to remind myself I am living on borrowed time.

On a lighter note, my husband and I will be arriving in Montego Bay next Tuesday. Staying for a week at an all inclusive resort. Hope I can find some good ganja. Borrowed time indeed.

[Hekate]

12. Marvelous news

[Aristus]

21. How long before the idiots start lining up and declaring they would rather die of HIV

than embrace the science?

Sound implausible?

Right now, some guy out there is declaring his refusal to get vaccinated in order to visit his dying daughter in the hospital.

So here we are...

[IcyPeas]

22. Will insurance corporations approve this method?