Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. I'm wondering now that medulla transplanting can rebuild the immune system of some cancer patients, is it practical to perform the same surgery on HIV positives?
AIDS is caused by opportunistic infections, does it mean that when an positive [person] keep in good life habits and stay away from possible sickening agents, AIDS will not occur?
I believe what you are referring to is called "bone marrow transplantation." BMT has proven effective in many types of advanced cancer. It is a very expensive, risky, and difficult procedure, one best reserved for situations where the prognosis is grave.
In the case of Jeff Getty, who received a marrow transplant from a baboon, a good, but not miraculous result was obtained.
At this point, anti-retroviral therapy is so good that I would not think this a very practical line of investigation.
AIDS, the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is caused by HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus. Opportunistic infections are the result of immune deficiency caused by the virus. They do not cause AIDS themselves. As an analogy, imagine that all the doors and windows were removed from your house. People who might not otherwise come into your house to rob you might do so, because became was so easy. Whatever removed the protection from your house provided by windows and doors made you vulnerable; the passers-by simply took advantage of an opportunity.
It is true, however, that people with AIDS might improve their health by being sure that their food is well prepared and that they drink only clean water. In much of the developing world, bad water is a big problem for people with weak immunity.
Hope this helps...
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