A groundbreaking new scientific study reveals that a 53-year-old man from Germany is the latest person to be fully cured of HIV, making him the third known person in history to be officially cured.
See also: Third person cured of HIV with stem cell transplant
The anonymous man from Düsseldorf, known asthe “Dusseldorf patient,” has been declared cured of HIV after a successful treatment that included an infusion of stem cells from a donor. His bone marrow cells were successfully replaced with these new ones and he is now free of the infection!
A groundbreaking study published in Nature on Monday revealed the successful stem cell transfer of an HIV patient who was also diagnosed with leukemia in February 2013. The treatment could be a potential game-changer for those living with both diseases. The journal declared that the Düsseldorf patient was the third person ever to be cured of HIV.
After the stem cell procedure, the patient was followed for years with consistent antiretroviral therapy (ART), which is a standard treatment that reduces HIV to undetectable levels and stops its transmission.
In 2018, health professionals discontinued the patient's antiretroviral therapy (ART). Paradoxically, although he no longer receives the treatment, researchers report that four years later, the Dusseldorf patient is still free of the HIV virus!
At a conference in 2019, doctors announced the patient's successful treatment. However, they were unable to say at the time whether it was a cure or simply a remission.
Although there is no cure, HIV can be managed so that sufferers can live long and healthy lives with the right treatment plans. If left untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS – the life- threatening acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
See also: American leaked medical data of Singaporean HIV patients
Despite the potential to help, stem cell transplants remain inaccessible for the majority of people living with HIV due to the enormous risks associated with such a procedure.
According to the study, the HIV treatment was an additional benefit of the stem cell transplant that the Düsseldorf patient received, with the primary goal of treating cancer. The stem cells were obtained from a donor who has an extremely rare mutation in the CCR5 protein. HIV uses this protein as a gateway to infect cells - however, this mutation is present in only 1% of all people and makes it practically impossible for HIV to enter these cells.
In 2009, history was made with the groundbreaking news that Timothy Ray Brown became the first person ever to be cured of HIV. At the time, known only as “the Berlin patient,” Brown underwent a stem cell transplant to treat his leukemia. Sadly, the cancer claimed his life in 2020, but by then he was HIV-cured.
Although stem cell transplants are not currently recommended for HIV, research is ongoing to see if a way can be found to modify a patient's existing genes with an HIV-resistant mutation. By studying this case and others like it, scientists hope to discover a revolutionary treatment option in the near future.
See also: World AIDS Day: Apple strengthens the fight against HIV with new products
Today many vaccines are being developed to combat HIV, although progress is slow.
During 2020, Canada reported 1,639 cases of HIV. Last year, 62,050 Canadians were diagnosed with HIV.
