Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Doc, can you tell me with all of todays current technology, will
we have an AIDS/HIV cure by 2007?
Is it possible to have a
child from an HIV- mother from a HIV+ father and the child be
HIV- at birth?
What can you tell me about ozone and hydrogen peroxide therapy as
treatments for HIV ?
Lisa Capaldini, M.D.
Internal Medicine
Three good questions: I'll take them in order.
As of 2004, there is no CURE for HIV in sight, and that is
disappointing news. The two obstacles to finding a cure are
a)the HIV virus can "hide" dormant in cells where it is beyond
the reach of HIV drugs and b)HIV vaccines to date have not proven
effective.
About HIV transmission and babies: an HIV+ man CAN impregnant his HIV-partner without passing on HIS HIV to her or to her baby; BUT he also CAN impregnate his partner, transmit HIV to her, and in so doing, risk HIV infection in the baby. Researchers are studying methods of "sperm washing" to try to separate sperm from HIV-containing flluids/cells in semen-I refer patients of mine in this situation to these researchers. Another option some couples choose is to have the HIV- woman get artificial insemination, that is, to use a sperm donor.
About hydrogen peroxide, ozone, etc: some people have speculated that specific remedies like hydrogen peroxide and ozone may reduce HIV activity by affecting chemical processes involving oxidation. Because these people have not presented their theories and/or studies at scientific meetings, I have no first- hand knowledge or understanding of them. Given the complexity of the immune system and the primitive nature of the HIV virus, I personally doubt that any of these treatments will prove to be effective compared to the antiviral and immunologic treatments we already have. And if they can be proven to be useful, great: we need data!!
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