IciStem
investigates systematically the HIV reservoir in people living with HIV who either had or may get an allogeneic
stem cell transplantation. Each patient registered at the IciStem program
participates in a local study led by his/her treating physicians. IciStem
advises systematic collection of clinical data and blood, tissue and CSF
samples before and after the stem cell transplantation. The IciStem consortium
contains a network of highly specialized expert laboratories that can perform
the most sensitive tests available to date to measure the HIV reservoir and the
quality of the immune system.
Despite all the
sensitive tests available to date, the only way to evaluate whether the HIV
reservoir has been controlled or cleared is to interrupt antiretroviral therapy
(ART). However, ART interruption must only be performed by
patients who have been informed about the risk of therapy interruption and have
signed an informed consent. Furthermore, interruption
of ART should be performed in
a controlled clinical setting with monitoring over
time of a possible viral rebound and the ability for scientifically
evaluation.
IciStem
is very grateful for all participating patients for assisting in the search for
a cure. We understand that the news about patients who discontinued therapy and
did not experience a viral a rebound thus far is hope giving. We want to
emphasize this has been done after thoroughly testing of the HIV reservoir and
with strict monitoring
People
living with HIV who have received or will receive an allogeneic transplantation
and who are interested to be registered to IciStem, may ask their treating
physician to contact the IciStem team.
We
can imagine that the HIV positive patients who do not have a hematological
disease requiring a stem cell transplantation visiting our website, would like to
participate. Unfortunately, stem cell transplantation is an high risk procedure
which comes with a high mortality and patients who do not have a hematological
disease requiring a transplantation can therefore not be registered. We do hope
we can provide knowledge in the nearby future which can translate the results
of IciStem to a broader group of people living with HIV.
