I started doing a little digging on this story about Timothy Brown, The Man Who Was Cured Of AIDS. He had a blood stem cell transplant from a donor who had a special genetic mutation that made him resistant to HIV.
Jamie Vernon posted in Scientific American about this case last August. While he is optimistic that we are making huge strides in HIV/AIDS research, he maintains some skepticism that Brown’s path will be The One True Cure.
There are several reasons why Brown’s case is not likely to be translatable to the millions of others whose lives are threatened by this disease.
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First, Brown had been highly successful at controlling his infection using antiretroviral therapy. In order to undergo leukemia treatments, he agreed to stop taking his HIV drugs. This led to a dangerous spike in his viral load. Fortunately, after receiving the stem cell transplant, the virus went to undetectable levels and remained so. For the record, no one has ever stopped taking HIV drugs without experiencing a reemergence of the virus.
Second, the risk of dying from the stem cell transplant alone ranges from ~10% to as high as 40%. This is not a risk most would accept given current success controlling HIV infection using antiretroviral drug treatments. Third, tests on Brown’s blood revealed that he was carrying variants of the virus that were capable of infecting white blood cells without relying on the CCR5 protein. No one knows why those viruses never infected the transplanted cells. Finally, Brown experienced neurological and intestinal side effects from the stem cell treatments. These complications led to temporary blindness and memory problems. At one point, Brown was in an induced coma so doctors could deal with his complications. He continues to undergo therapy to recover his balance as well as to restore his normal speaking capabilities.
To summarize, Timothy Ray Brown is what some would call a medical miracle. Despite the rational approach taken by Dr. Hütter, the medical science that “cured” him of HIV and preserved his life relied on some uncontrollable circumstances, like finding a tissue match with the delta32 mutation and avoiding infection of the transplanted cells. Some would say Timothy Ray Brown is simply a lucky guy.
He goes on to theorize how the lessons learned in Brown’s treatment might be applied toward finding a less-risky, more universal treatment for AIDS patients.
A number of news sources are rolling out Mr. Brown’s story again, as one doctor moves forward with cord blood transplants. From FoxNews.com:
Dr. Lawrence Petz, a stem cell transplantation specialist, as well as chief medical officer for StemCyte and president of the Cord Blood Forum, explained cord blood essentially gives doctors more leeway in regards to matching patients with donors and opens the possibility of treating many more people.
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Two weeks ago, a patient in the Netherlands was the first to undergo this potentially revolutionary treatment. As was the case with Brown, the transplant was primarily done to address another disease, but doctors specifically selected a unit of cord blood that contained the HIV-resistant gene in hopes of curing that as well. Another similar surgery is scheduled for a patient in Madrid within the month
This is post 27 of 49 in the SSAweek Biodork Blogathon. Donate to the SSA today! Read more about my reader challenges here.
2 comments
Erin
June 9, 2012 at 21:08 (UTC -5) Link to this comment
This is a fascinating story. Yes, there are a lot of risks being taken but isn’t that the only way we move forward? While the first story I read about this topic was really simplistic (friggin’ Yahoo News), the fact that verifiable evidence stem cell transplant success was enough to keep me interested. As a Type 1 diabetic, I’d be willing to undergo risking surgery for the hope that others might benefit from the outcomes.
umojaresearch
June 10, 2012 at 15:40 (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The article about Stem Cells is interesting, but many African Americans and others who believe they have AIDS/HIV, may not have AIDS at all.
If you carefully read what the producers of these AIDS tests say in writing, they suggest the AIDS/HIV test is not conclusive, or proof you have AIDS/HIV. You can also find on the Internet additional information suggesting; “Since the accuracy for HIV antibody tests has never been properly established, it is not possible to claim that a positive test indicates a current, active HIV infection or even to know what it may indicate.24”
If we go beyond the fact AIDS/HIV is a man-made genetically engineered disease, proved by Virologist as early as 1988 and exposed by Dr. Robert B. Strecker in his Video The Strecker Memorandum, in addition to the research of Brother Zears Miles, we really need to look at what the disease is and how it replicates.
For a Stem Cell to cure AIDS/HIV, it would have to inhibit the Protein Enzyme, Reverse Transcriptase. The AIDS/HIV Virus must have this protein enzyme to replicate, or reproduce itself. So if the Stem Cell therapy is not inhibiting this enzyme, people may line up for another unproven cure, the same as they line up to be tested for a disease which they my receive a “False Positive” test results. Africans and other dark skinned people naturally have fewer “T-Cells” than white people and many of the African, or black population when tested have been proven to be “False Positive” because of their naturally low T-Cell Count.
Many of the drugs used to supposedly cure AIDS/HIV are synthetic drugs, which try to block the reverse transcriptase, but actually do the same damage AIDS does, by destroying the Immune System. As victims continue to take these drugs, their Immune Systems are further depressed and the worry only adds to an ineffective Immune System, which is unable to fight off any illness. The human body is organic and as early as 1900, it was proven that all drugs, including aspirin are harmful to your good health.
The interesting point of cure, as far as AIDS is concerned, is that the doctors and scientists who have given cures or evidence of what has cured AIDS, Cancer and other diseases have been attacked by the American Medical Association and the U.S. Government. The Medical Industry has suppressed the Truth of Natural Cures.
Many diseases have been completely remedied by proper diet, while others means have been Herbs. It wasn’t until mid 1990’s that scientists rediscovered the power of natures remedy for the majority of viruses, bacteria, and fungus and among the strongest natural antibiotic the Olive Leaf Extract, used for thousands of years and known as the Tree Of Life by the Ancients. Interestingly enough, scientists found that the Olive Leaf Extract inhibits the Enzyme Reverse Transcriptase, kills almost all Bacteria, Virus and Fungus.
So we are led astray constantly with lies and additional lies of drugs, testing and now Stem Cells, the really big question is, “Where Is The Proof”.
Change your diet and change your life, eat more raw live foods and drink more fresh squeezed juices. That type of diet is the cure of most disease and has been proven since 1912 in the U.S.
Good Luck To you All
UMOJA Research
Since 1986
AIDS, Cancer, Disease, Causes and Cures, Nutrition & Agriculture
Ref
1. Olive Leaf Extract, Dr. Morton Walker
2. Nutrition Against Disease, Roger J. Williams
3. Racketeering in Medicine, The Suppression of Alternatives, James P. Carter, M.D., Dr.P.H
4. DVD, The Strecker Memorandum, Dr. Robert B. Strecker
5. DVD, Cancer The Forbidden Cures, Massimo Mazzucco
6. DVD, Dying To Have Known, The Evidence Behind Natural Healing, Steve Kroschel