TWO-AND-HALF years ago, one 38-year-old gay Canadian man with HIV might have
considered himself relatively fortunate. The strain that had infected him was a
mild one and, eight years after infection, without drug treatment, his immune
system was still in good order.
Then he met someone and began a promising relationship. But almost
immediately his condition deteriorated—and fast. In just six months, the
number of CD4 white blood cells in his circulation halved. Levels of HIV in his
blood rose fivefold. And worse, he didn’t respond to powerful antiviral drug
therapy.
An investigation by doctors at Ottawa General Hospital…
