‘No sign’ of HIV in transplant patient

German doctors claim they cannot find any sign of HIV in a man who received Aids resistant bone marrow.

The American man, who has not been named, was treated for leukaemia in Berlin, Reuters reported.

He was given a bone marrow transplant from a donor who had a genetic propensity for Aids resistance.

People with leukaemia can often be treated with their own bone marrow and chemotherapy, but in some cases a donor is needed.

The Clinic for Gastroenterology, Infections and Rheumatology of the Berlin Charite hospital said in a statement: "More than 20 months after the successful transplant, no HIV can be detected in the patient.”

However, doctors did not foresee bone marrow as a means of treating people with HIV.

First of all, their bone marrow would have to be destroyed, then their immune systems would be reduced to zero.

News brought to you by Global Health TV, covering the issues of health in the developing world.