In the sters the HIV-infected person, who is no longer a patient, appears in public for the first time. Unfortunately, his therapy cannot be transferred to other patients
"No name, no photos," says the doctor. "He's coming down now."
With these words, a portrait began in July in the Time about the so-called "Berlin patient". Back then, countless journalists were after him.
Now the man in the Star (50/2010) was shown to the public for the first time with his real name and pictures. His name is Timothy Ray Brown, he is gay and has lived in Berlin for many years.
The 44-year-old US citizen was diagnosed with HIV in 1995.positive tested. In 2007, the virus disappeared from his blood after a stem cell transplant - even though he was no longer taking HIV medication.
The coup succeeded: stem cells that slam the door in HIV's face
Numerous other media outlets are also reporting again these days about the world's first patient who has apparently actually been cured of HIV. The reason is a report by Charité in the specialist journal BloodAccording to the report, there is still no evidence of HIV in Brown's body - three and a half years after the transplantation put the virus in checkmate.
What's more, the researchers also found no functional HIV in other body cells. It is possible that HIV really has been completely removed from the body of an infected person for the first time. The researchers are now cautiously talking about a cure.
The truly sensational treatment success at the Charité was due to a severe leukaemia that Brown had contracted in addition to his HIV infection. When a stem cell transplant became necessary, assistant doctor Gero Hütter had a very clever idea - and the necessary portion of luck. He and his team searched for and found a stem cell donor who was largely protected from HIV infection due to a special genetic feature. On the surface of his cells, the so-called CCR5-receptor, which most HIV variants use to penetrate cells.
The coup succeeded: the transplanted stem cells stopped HIV from multiplying in Timothy Brown's body - until today. Because the blood is now formed by the new cells, the HIV viruses that were still in the body no longer had a chance to spread further; they had the door slammed in their faces, so to speak. Even if there are still viruses in his body today, they are apparently no longer able to cause any damage. It seems very likely that this will remain the case.
Unfortunately, the success is not transferable to other patients
Unfortunately, this therapy cannot be transferred to other patients: finding a donor for a stem cell transplant is already very difficult under normal conditions. Moreover, only one per cent of the population has the right gene variant that protects against HIV. And a stem cell transplant is a life-threatening procedure with severe side effects. What's more, there are also HI viruses that use a different receptor to penetrate human cells.
Nevertheless, the case provides important information for research and gives hope: "Until recently, curing an HIV patient was unthinkable!" says Armin Schafberger, Medical Officer at Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe.
That the star It's hard to believe that the German doctor who put the big word miracle in the headline again - after all, we are approaching the Saviour's birthday these days. In reality, however, the Berlin patient's treatment is an excellent and almost curious medical achievement - which will remain an isolated case for the time being.
(Holger Wicht)
Report on stern.de: "The man who defeated HIV"
