The remarkable case of a baby
being cured of HIV infection in the United States using readily available drugs
has raised new hope for eradicating the infection in infants worldwide, but
scientists has said that it will take a lot more research and much more
sensitive diagnostics before this hope becomes a reality, Reuters reports.
being cured of HIV infection in the United States using readily available drugs
has raised new hope for eradicating the infection in infants worldwide, but
scientists has said that it will take a lot more research and much more
sensitive diagnostics before this hope becomes a reality, Reuters reports.
In a medical first for an infant,
the Mississippi toddler was born in July 2010 infected with HIV, treated within
30 hours of delivery with aggressive HIV therapy, which continued for 18
months.
the Mississippi toddler was born in July 2010 infected with HIV, treated within
30 hours of delivery with aggressive HIV therapy, which continued for 18
months.
She is now considered cured of her
infection, a team of researchers led by Dr. Deborah Persaud, a virologist at
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said in a news conference at the
Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta on Sunday.
infection, a team of researchers led by Dr. Deborah Persaud, a virologist at
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said in a news conference at the
Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta on Sunday.
“From a clinical perspective, this
means that if you can get an infected baby on to antiretroviral drugs
immediately after delivery, it’s going to be possible to prevent or reverse the
infection – essentially cure the baby,” said Dr. Steven Deeks, an HIV/AIDS
researcher at the University of California at San Francisco who is attending
the conference, where the case was presented to researchers yesterday.
means that if you can get an infected baby on to antiretroviral drugs
immediately after delivery, it’s going to be possible to prevent or reverse the
infection – essentially cure the baby,” said Dr. Steven Deeks, an HIV/AIDS
researcher at the University of California at San Francisco who is attending
the conference, where the case was presented to researchers yesterday.
Deeks and others hailed the
findings as a great advance in the search for a cure in babies born infected
with HIV. But the researchers said they also suggest the need for better ways
to diagnose HIV infection, a process that typically takes up to six weeks.
findings as a great advance in the search for a cure in babies born infected
with HIV. But the researchers said they also suggest the need for better ways
to diagnose HIV infection, a process that typically takes up to six weeks.
“This could have a profound effect
on how we approach babies born to HIV-infected moms,” Deeks said.
on how we approach babies born to HIV-infected moms,” Deeks said.
Treatment of HIV-infected mothers
before delivery is the best way to prevent HIV infection of infants, experts
say, but even in resource-rich countries such as the United States, 100 to 200
babies are born each year infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, said
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.
before delivery is the best way to prevent HIV infection of infants, experts
say, but even in resource-rich countries such as the United States, 100 to 200
babies are born each year infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, said
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.
Worldwide, especially in
developing countries, as many as 1,000 babies are born infected each day. For
these children, the findings could have a major impact on the “terrible burden
of HIV infection throughout the world,” Fauci said.
developing countries, as many as 1,000 babies are born infected each day. For
these children, the findings could have a major impact on the “terrible burden
of HIV infection throughout the world,” Fauci said.
Michel Sidibé, executive director
of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, known as UNAIDS, said the
news “gives us great hope that a cure for HIV in children is possible,” but it
also underscores the need for research and innovation, “especially in the area
of early diagnostics.”
of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, known as UNAIDS, said the
news “gives us great hope that a cure for HIV in children is possible,” but it
also underscores the need for research and innovation, “especially in the area
of early diagnostics.”
Fauci said the child’s case was an
important “proof of concept,” but he cautioned that it was only one case and it
needs to be further validated.
important “proof of concept,” but he cautioned that it was only one case and it
needs to be further validated.
“The real question is will this be
broadly applicable to other infants?” he said.
broadly applicable to other infants?” he said.
Fauci said there is a risk that
without better diagnostics, children who were never infected in the first place
could be exposed to toxic drugs with very early treatment.
without better diagnostics, children who were never infected in the first place
could be exposed to toxic drugs with very early treatment.
In the case of the Mississippi
girl, Dr. Hannah Gay, a pediatric HIV specialist at the University of
Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, made the call to treat the child with
HIV drugs even before her infection was confirmed because she believed the
child was at such great risk of infection. Had she been wrong, the therapy
would have been stopped.
girl, Dr. Hannah Gay, a pediatric HIV specialist at the University of
Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, made the call to treat the child with
HIV drugs even before her infection was confirmed because she believed the
child was at such great risk of infection. Had she been wrong, the therapy
would have been stopped.
“Since the mother had really been
at such high risk of transmitting to the baby, they decided to treat on square
one,” said Fauci, as opposed to giving the child a lower, preventative dose of
drugs until test results confirm an infection.
at such high risk of transmitting to the baby, they decided to treat on square
one,” said Fauci, as opposed to giving the child a lower, preventative dose of
drugs until test results confirm an infection.
Source: Leadership
