Health
Scientists reportedly cured a woman with HIV after stem cell transplant
The "New York patient," as the woman is referred to, was diagnosed with HIV in 2013 and leukemia in 2017
February 16, 2022 11:34am
Updated: February 16, 2022 7:22pm
A U.S. research team reported that they may have possibly cured Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in a woman for the first time, reported NBC News.
The scientists used a cutting-edge stem cell transplant method that is expected to expand the pool of people who could receive similar treatment.
The procedure was tested on a woman referred to as the "New York Patient," who received her treatment at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. The woman was diagnosed with HIV in 2013 and leukemia in 2017.
The procedure, known as haplo-cord transplant, was developed by the Weill Cornell team to combat cancer. However, the latest results show it might also work against HIV.
Procedure
To achieve the success of the intervention, the doctors subjected the patient to intense chemotherapy with the aim of "completely destroying" her own immune system, according to statements made by scientists Jingmei Hsu, Koen van Besien, and Marshall Glesby.
Stem cells were transplanted from a donor with a leukocyte antigen similar to that of the infected patient, increasing the chances of efficacy.
The scientists said that finding the ideal donor was a "challenge" since they also had to have the rare genetic abnormality that confers resistance to HIV.
The stem cell extraction process consisted of separating the cells from a compatible umbilical cord, which are then transplanted through a blood transfusion. One day later, the patient received a new transfusion, but this time of adult stem cells.
The woman is in good health, but she continues to receive medication to counteract the virus.
This discovery marks an important step in developing a cure for HIV, the researchers said.
