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Very intersting article on SARS and HIV, speculative, but very interstin
“SARS so far has presented scientists with a number of perplexing aspects. Some scientists speculate that the virus doesn’t actually kill human cells — that the immune system’s overreaction actually precipitates the destruction of cells of the lung and other parts of the body, precipitating the acute pneumonia that is the disease’ hallmark. In theory, they say, death may be the result of an aberrant or overly sensitive immune response. If that is proved correct, it’s possible that HIV patients may actually be at lower risk for SARS precisely because they lack strong immune responses.
This is only speculation, of course, but the notion is garnering interest among physicians here. An added bit of evidence supports the theory: The most effective SARS treatment so far is steroids — agents that stifle the immune response.”