Eliminating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from infected individuals and cells: is it possible?

The literature from 1984 to 1991 has been searched for reports of patients who have eliminated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from their system. While such reports are scarce, it appears that a small number of HIV-positive patients have reverted to a negative state either spontaneously or following radical immunosuppressive regimens for neoplastic disease. Although no carefully planned animal experiments or clinical trials have been reported, it would appear that bone marrow ablation and replacement may eliminate HIV from healthy, asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals. Although much of the clinical experience to date suggests that radical immunosuppression is not indicated in advanced AIDS patients in whom the virus has likely spread beyond the immune system, such cases do not represent evidence that immunosuppression is not indicated in healthy, HIV-positive individuals.