Scientists appear to cure first woman of HIV in “important” step forward for treatment
A woman was apparently cured of HIV using cutting-edge treatment in a huge step forward in creating a cure for the virus. She becomes the first woman believed to be cured and third person overall.
Announced on 15 February, Dr. Yvonne J. Bryson and Dr. Deborah Persaud, both paediatric infectious disease specialists, shared their findings at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Denver, Colorado.
Researchers stated that the treatment, which took place four years ago, appears to have worked as the unnamed patient remains off HIV medication and is “asymptomatic and healthy”.
They said a brand new transplant method using blood from the umbilical cord was used to ‘cure’ her. This type of blood does not need to be matched as closely to the recipient as others do and a lot more of it is available than the adult stem cells usually used in this type of procedure.
