Controversial trials to "nuke" HIV and Aids in order to stop the virus replicating itself are to begin soon.
Professors Barry Kistnasamy and Umesh Lalloo, from the Nelson Mandela Medical School in Durban, have accepted a brief from Hivex Ltd, a medical technology company, to conduct scientific tests on the non-invasive procedure.
The treatment, which previous studies have shown neither prevents nor cures HIV and Aids but appears to neutralise the virus, relies on the use of electromagnetic technology similar to that of cellphones and microwave ovens.
Using this technology in treating illness is controversial, and one scientist said he was sceptical that it could work.
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| Using this technology in treating illness is controversial |
According to the school's head of department, Lalloo, the patient will be required to sit in a room with a device that will transmit non-ionising radiation waves for a period of time.
Tests will then be conducted on the patient to determine what kind of effect the treatment has on the virus.
Non-ionising radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that does not cause the production of ions in matter.
When the non-ionising radiation passes through the body, it does not damage DNA unless there is enough energy to cause a thermal effect.
Radiation waves have been the topic of debate in recent times, with studies being conducted to determine if this frequency could cause cancer.
The machine, invented by Hivex Ltd's Russian scientists and perfected in South Africa, sends out electromagnetic emissions which are absorbed by the patients.
Stressing that everything was still speculation, the professors, however, expect that the treatment "will disrupt the virus and stop it replicating".
If the virus stops replicating, it would be easier to prevent the patient's health deteriorating into full-blown Aids.
"We are not making any claims in relation to what the outcome will be because we do not want to create false hope," Kistnasamy said.
"At the end of the trials we will be able to make a judgment on whether this proposed treatment can be used in the fight against HIV and Aids."
The clinical trials, which will begin in Durban next week, will involve 360 patients and span a period of six months. About R24-million has been earmarked for the trials.
The University of Natal's ethics committee and the Radiation Control Council have approved the trials and, together with an international peer-review panel, will monitor the entire process.
- This article was originally published on page 2 of The Star on April 04, 2003
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