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HIV Patient Cured by Rare Genetic Mutation
13 Apr
Summary
- A Norwegian man is effectively cured of HIV after a stem cell transplant.
- His brother carried a rare, virus-blocking genetic mutation.
- This high-risk procedure is not a cure option for most HIV patients.
A Norwegian man, aged 63, has achieved long-term remission from HIV after undergoing a stem cell transplant to treat an unrelated blood cancer. This patient, dubbed the "Oslo patient," is among a small group worldwide to enter remission through such procedures.
The transplant, performed in 2020, was intended to treat his myelodysplastic syndrome. Doctors discovered by chance that his brother, the donor, carried a rare CCR5 genetic mutation that prevents HIV from entering the body's cells. This mutation is present in only about one percent of people in Northern Europe.
Two years post-transplant, the Oslo patient ceased his antiretroviral therapy. Subsequent tests revealed no detectable traces of the HIV virus in his blood, gut, or bone marrow. While this rigorous procedure is not a practical cure for the millions living with HIV, researchers believe studying such cases will advance the quest for a universal HIV cure.
This case marks the first time a cured HIV patient received a transplant from a family member, with their entire immune system being replaced by the donor's. The patient is reportedly in good health and experiencing increased energy.
