A 63-year-old Norwegian man, known as the 'Oslo patient,' has achieved long-term remission of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant from his brother. This rare success makes him one of only a few individuals globally to experience such an outcome.
The transplant was initially performed to treat a rare blood cancer. Researchers discovered that the donor brother carried a genetic mutation, CCR5Δ32/Δ32, which makes white blood cells resistant to HIV entry. Following the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, all traces of functioning HIV DNA were cleared from the patient. He was able to discontinue HIV medication two years post-transplant, with no viral rebound observed after five years.
This case provides valuable data for HIV cure research, enhancing understanding of the virus's pathology and potential biomarkers. While stem cell transplants are too risky for widespread HIV treatment, this case, along with previous remission instances, highlights specific genetic factors and immune responses that could inform future therapeutic strategies.