Early HIV treatment "functionally cure" 1 in 10 – French researchers March 15, 2013 - 13:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Rapid treatment after HIV infection may be enough to "functionally cure" about a 10th of those diagnosed early, say researchers in France, BBC News reported. They have been analysing 14 people who stopped therapy, but have since shown no signs of the virus resurging. It follows reports of a baby girl being effectively cured after very early treatment in the US. However, most people infected with HIV do not find out until the virus has fully infiltrated the body. The group of patients, known as the Visconti cohort, all started treatment within 10 weeks of being infected. They stuck to a course of antiretroviral drugs for three years, on average, but then stopped. The drugs keep the virus only in check, they cannot eradicate it from its hiding places inside the immune system. Normally, when the drugs stop, the virus bounces back. This has not happened in the Visconti patients. Some have been able to control HIV levels for a decade. Dr Asier Saez-Cirion, from the Institute Pasteur in Paris, said: "Most individuals who follow the same treatment will not control the infection, but there are a few of them who will." He said 5-15% of patients may be functionally cured, meaning they no longer needed drugs, by attacking the virus soon after infection. Partner news  Top stories The State Symbols Day was first celebrated in 2010, on the initiative of WE state values preservation foundation. In 1979-1981, Vrezh Israeyelyan worked in “Hayreniki Dzayn” (Homeland Voice) weekly newspaper. Yerevan municipality’s 2013 environmental program envisages creation of new lawns covering area of 3.2 hectares. Melkonian had no prior service record in any country's army before being placed in command of an estimated 4,000 men in the war.   Partner news |  Latest news UN chief hails China's peacekeeping efforts  Ban said China has provided more peacekeepers than all the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council.Iran's Guardian Council approves presidential election result Hassan Rouhani won the election by taking nearly 51% of votes. Since he won more than half, that eliminated the need for a runoff.Friends of Syria to meet in Doha on June 22: French official Assad's forces aim to retake Aleppo, where they have been mired in a bloody stalemate with rebels for nearly a year.FBI head admits use of drones for surveillance in U.S. The use of such drones is politically charged and civil-rights advocates say there are no clear privacy rules governing their use. |
