In an HIV conference, a researcher based in London has
presented the second patient who has lived normally without signs of the Virus
after putting a stop to the HIV treatments for 18 months. This was after a
stem-cell transplant had taken place. This event took place in London.
The "London Patient", who suffered from cancer, originally from Venezuela, has made the headlines news in 2019 when it was reported by researchers at the University of Cambridge that there was no trace of the HIV in his blood after doing away with the medications for 18 months.
The tests were evidence that the patient must have been cured says Ravindra Gupta, the lead author of the study that was published in The Lancet HIV.
The Patient
The "London Patient", who suffered from cancer, originally from Venezuela, has made the headlines news in 2019 when it was reported by researchers at the University of Cambridge that there was no trace of the HIV in his blood after doing away with the medications for 18 months.
The tests were evidence that the patient must have been cured says Ravindra Gupta, the lead author of the study that was published in The Lancet HIV.
The Patient
Adam
Castillejo, the patient, was diagnosed with HIV in 2003 and had since been on
medication to keep the disease in check.
Later
that year, Adam Castillejo was diagnosed of deadly cancer, an advanced
Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In
2016, a bone marrow transplant was conducted on him to treat blood cancer.
After American Timothy Brown, known as "Berlin Patient", who was cured of HIV in 2011, Adam Castillejo has become the second person to be cured of HIV.
After American Timothy Brown, known as "Berlin Patient", who was cured of HIV in 2011, Adam Castillejo has become the second person to be cured of HIV.
Viral tests of Castillejo's cerebral fluid, lymphoid tissue and intestinal tissue over 24 months after putting an end to the anti-retro-viral treatment, has shown no active infection.
According to Gupta, the tests uncovered HIV "fossils” which are the fragments of the virus incapable of reproducing making the patient safe.
It's quite difficult to imagine the possible elimination of a virus that infects billions of cells in the body.
Ethical Dilemma
Researchers
have cautioned that the breakthrough recorded is not an assumed cure for HIV
that claims about a million lives yearly.
Gupta says Castillejo's treatment was the last option to his blood cancer which would have claimed his life if there was no intervention
Gupta says Castillejo's treatment was the last option to his blood cancer which would have claimed his life if there was no intervention
He also added that similar treatments were carried out on several patients, but were far in their remission line. Although there is hope for more recoveries in the future
Currently, due to the mortality rate which is ten percent, researchers are weighing the options of having stem cell transplants in the future for patients suffering from a drug-resistant form of HIV.
Castillejo said that the experience had made him identify himself to help to spread the awareness of HIV.
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