Child "cured" of an HIV infection

[Foxi4]

A child born in Mississippi with an HIV infection has been "functionally cured" - the second case like this in the world. The infant was diagnosed with HIV at birth and transfered to the University of Mississippi Medical Center where it underwent a antiretroviral treatment which started about 30 hours after birth. Three strong drugs (AZT, 3TC, nevirapine) have been prescribed and administered until the baby reached 12 to 15 months of age.

Now, after almost a year off treatment, the baby shows no signs of HIV infection. Highly-sensitive tests detect a minimal number of virus copies - the little patient appears to be "cured". This monumental success was announced Sunday at 2013 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta.

The only other documented case of "curing" an HIV infection is that of Timothy Brown, the "Berlin patient."

Source

 

[DinohScene]

It's one step closer to a real cure.

That's impressive!

 

[Foxi4]

It's one step closer to a real cure.

That's impressive!

The doctors claim it only worked because "antiretroviral drugs were administered almost immediately after birth and in high doses" - it's a glimmer of hope for HIV-positive couples expecting babies, but not really a cure, unfortunately.

 

[DinohScene]

It's a step closer.
Indeed it's not a real cure but hey, if an infant has been cured, so can an teen/adult one day.

 

[Gahars]

The problem is, this only can work for the extremely young - once the virus has spread and rooted itself, it's too late. Not to mention that this is an isolated case.

It's nice news, definitely, but hardly the herald of a true cure.

...Shit, since when am I the downer?

 

[BORTZ]

Oh yeah I saw this. Pretty impressive...

 

[pwsincd]

The other case that the OP touched on, was a different procedure all together, where in they basically destroyed the guy's immune system and replaced a known HIV tolerant strain back into him allowing him to develop a new immunity , this guy wasn't a child at all, I think mid twenties if I recall...

 

[camurso_]

I think the real question is can he infect other people, now that his body is able to control the virus?

 

[Foxi4]

I think the real question is can he infect other people, now that his body is able to control the virus?

Pretty sure that the number of virus copies needs to reach a certain level to infect someone... so probably "no".

 

[The Catboy]

The problem is, this only can work for the extremely young - once the virus has spread and rooted itself, it's too late. Not to mention that this is an isolated case.It's nice news, definitely, but hardly the herald of a true cure....Shit, since when am I the downer?

Baby steps my friend, this is just one small step to finding the cure.

 

[Gahars]

Baby steps my friend, this is just one step to finding the cure.

Unfortunately, no, not really.

Don't get me wrong, with more research, development, and testing this could be great in preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS to infants, but this offers nothing for people already infected. We're dealing with a very specific sort of case here. (Plus, apparently HIV cells can go dormant and remain undetectable for years, so that may be happening here.)

It's more along the lines of a side-step. It's definitely great, don't get me wrong, but it's not taking us towards the miracle cure people have been hoping for.

 

[The Catboy]

Unfortunately, no, not really.
Don't get me wrong, with more research, development, and testing this could be great in preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS to infants, but this offers nothing for people already infected. We're dealing with a very specific sort of case here. (Plus, apparently HIV cells can go dormant and remain undetectable for years, so that may be happening here.)
It's more along the lines of a side-step. It's definitely great, don't get me wrong, but it's not taking us towards the miracle cure people have been hoping for.

Science takes time and hard work, I would rather so even the smallest achievement over no achievement.

 

[FAST6191]

HIV in babies/foetuses is an odd one from what I recall so I will not even venture there.

As for the Berlin patient stuff I thought there were potentially another two, we had a thread back on it in July http://gbatemp.net/threads/two-more-men-with-hiv-seemingly-cured.331527/ but I must confess I did not keep up to date there.

 

[Lacius]

Unfortunately, no, not really.

Don't get me wrong, with more research, development, and testing this could be great in preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS to infants, but this offers nothing for people already infected. We're dealing with a very specific sort of case here. (Plus, apparently HIV cells can go dormant and remain undetectable for years, so that may be happening here.)

It's more along the lines of a side-step. It's definitely great, don't get me wrong, but it's not taking us towards the miracle cure people have been hoping for.

The effect of when these drugs were given to the patient can give scientists better insight into the mechanisms of HIV and HIV drugs, which could eventually lead to a cure. You're right that, as of now, there's nothing groundbreaking about this discovery outside the future treatment of newborns with HIV.

 

[Janthran]

Baby steps my friend, this is just one small step to finding the cure.

If that pun wasn't intended then you should go somewhere else

 

[Ethevion]

While this is definitely good news, I can't help but feel bad for a child to go through something like this.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

Wait, didn't some docs here in Canada actually possibly find a cure for it, and have recently been allowed human testing?

 

[Foxi4]

Wait, didn't some docs here in Canada actually possibly find a cure for it, and have recently been allowed human testing?

They found a protein which binds with the virus cells and renders them inoperable as far as I remember - that too was quite monumental.

 

[Janthran]

While this is definitely good news, I can't help but feel bad for a child to go through something like this.

Beats the alternative.
You know, the one where he dies of HIV

 

[ThatDudeWithTheFood]

Somebody who came into my class to talk to us about organisms in the Amazon Rain Forest told us there is a natural cure for HIV found in the Amazon Rain Forest but it will probably never be researched since it is a natural cure and there is no profit to be made from researching it.