Another major breakthrough
was reported in the search for
a cure for AIDS.
After bone marrow
transplantation, two HIV-
infected men have no longer any
trace of the virus that causes
AIDS in their cells, researchers
report.
Lymphocytes are a type of white
blood cells and are a key part of
the immune system.
U.S. investigators suspect that
the bone marrow transplant,
together with the continuation
of antiretroviral therapy as a
result of the dramatic effects
evident eight months after
transplantation. They are
scheduled to present preliminary
findings Thursday at the
International AIDS Conference in
Washington, DC.
HIV patients receiving
antiretroviral therapy often get
"an undetectable viral load"
meaning no virus particles in
their blood. But they still have
latent HIV in their cells, and if
antiretroviral therapy was
stopped, it could reactivate
latent HIV.
Because they had no traces of
HIV in their white blood cells is
an indication that the "pool" of
latent HIV may have been
eliminated, the researchers
believe.
At this point, researchers are far
from saying these patients are
cured. However, the findings are
"exciting," said Dr. Savita Pahwa,
director of the Center for AIDS
Research at the University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine,
who was not involved in the
study.
"Each clue that is obtained that it
is possible to eliminate latent HIV
must be investigated," she said.
"The elimination of the reserve
HIV is the key to a cure," said
Pahwa. She stressed it would
only be possible to say that
these patients were "functionally
cured" if the virus will not
reactivate when the patients
were off antiretroviral therapy.

We shall get there..one day HIV would be a thing of the past..