The first person believed to have been cured of AIDS says he is cured of the disease forever, despite researchers finding traces of the virus in his body.
Timothy Ray Brown, also known as the 'Berlin patient,' says doctors have told him he's 'cured of AIDS and will remain cured.'
Mr Brown's case was a landmark medical advancement that researchers say could pave the way for future treatment of the insidious disease for its 34 million sufferers worldwide.
Mr Brown had a blood stem cell transplant in 2007 to treat leukemia, using a donor with the rare 'delta 32' mutation that provides natural resistance to HIV. Doctors declared him 'cured' soon after.
The 'delta 32' mutation occurs in less than 1 percent of people with Northern European ancestry, with Swedes being the most likely to carry the gene.
Timothy Ray Brown congratulated by Sharon Stone
However, researchers in California recently found traces of HIV in his tissues, leading to speculation that the virus had returned and that he had not, in fact, been cured.
Mr Brown and his doctors dismissed the findings, saying whatever traces of HIV remained were dead.
He addressed the media in the US for the first time this week, appearing frail but energetic. He announced the formation of a new AIDS foundation in his name.
'I am the first, and I believe the first of many people who will be cured of the AIDS virus,' Mr Brown said.
'My body is proof of the concept that HIV can be cured.'
The appearance was part of the 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC, and was one of the centerpieces of the gathering of 25,000 doctors, researchers, AIDS activists, politicians and celebrities.
Mr Brown's success has inspired organizers to title this year's gathering 'Towards an HIV Cure.'
However, doctors say the specific case -- using a bone marrow transplant from an immune person -- is an unlikely source of the cure. They say the procure is dangerous and expensive and very few people carry the immunity.
A ray of hope in the fight and possible defeat of HIV and doctors are claiming it is unlikely and expensive.
Maybe they are just upset that they didn't try it first.
Source: http://ontvsite.com/stories/668/Timothy-Ray-Brown-is-the-First-Man-Cured-Of-HIV-AIDS
The first person believed to have been cured of AIDS says he is cured of the disease forever, despite researchers finding traces of the virus in his body.
Timothy Ray Brown, also known as the 'Berlin patient,' says doctors have told him he's 'cured of AIDS and will remain cured.'
Mr Brown's case was a landmark medical advancement that researchers say could pave the way for future treatment of the insidious disease for its 34 million sufferers worldwide.
Mr Brown had a blood stem cell transplant in 2007 to treat leukemia, using a donor with the rare 'delta 32' mutation that provides natural resistance to HIV. Doctors declared him 'cured' soon after.
The 'delta 32' mutation occurs in less than 1 percent of people with Northern European ancestry, with Swedes being the most likely to carry the gene.
Timothy Ray Brown congratulated by Sharon Stone
However, researchers in California recently found traces of HIV in his tissues, leading to speculation that the virus had returned and that he had not, in fact, been cured.
Mr Brown and his doctors dismissed the findings, saying whatever traces of HIV remained were dead.
He addressed the media in the US for the first time this week, appearing frail but energetic. He announced the formation of a new AIDS foundation in his name.
'I am the first, and I believe the first of many people who will be cured of the AIDS virus,' Mr Brown said.
'My body is proof of the concept that HIV can be cured.'
The appearance was part of the 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC, and was one of the centerpieces of the gathering of 25,000 doctors, researchers, AIDS activists, politicians and celebrities.
Mr Brown's success has inspired organizers to title this year's gathering 'Towards an HIV Cure.'
However, doctors say the specific case -- using a bone marrow transplant from an immune person -- is an unlikely source of the cure. They say the procure is dangerous and expensive and very few people carry the immunity.
A ray of hope in the fight and possible defeat of HIV and doctors are claiming it is unlikely and expensive.
Maybe they are just upset that they didn't try it first.
Source: http://ontvsite.com/stories/668/Timothy-Ray-Brown-is-the-First-Man-Cured-Of-HIV-AIDS
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