Stem cell transplant
It was global news in 2009: the first person cured of HIV.
Timothy Ray Brown, an American living in Berlin who had lived with HIV since 1995, developed leukaemia, a deadly blood cancer. To combat the leukaemia, he underwent a stem cell transplant. Stem cells make all the cells for the body, including CD4 cells. His doctors had an idea. If they used stem cells from a donor who was immune to HIV, what would happen?
After this stem cell transplant, Timothy Ray Brown no longer had HIV and was therefore cured of HIV. However, this method cannot be used as a cure for HIV on a large scale because it is a very invasive procedure with a very high risk of death.
With a stem cell transplant, your own stem cells must first be destroyed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The new stem cells must then be administered, with the risk that your body will reject them.
After this stem cell transplant, Timothy Ray Brown no longer had HIV and was therefore cured of HIV. However, this method cannot be used as a cure for HIV on a large scale because it is a very invasive procedure with a very high risk of death.
With a stem cell transplant, your own stem cells must first be destroyed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The new stem cells must then be administered, with the risk that your body will reject them.