Such studies are done with patients who need BM transplants for unrelated causes.

These cases are interesting to study because it teaches us what happens when you do reservoir depletion while on HAART. This is a big topic in current HIV research: reactivate integrated HIV to get the host cells killed while blocking viral replication with HAART.

The mortality rate from BMT is extremely high. Much higher than the short term mortality from HIV.

Transplant technology has been around for a while, but only in the past decade have we started to get better at it. This is a function of improved training, improved facilities, experienced doctors, and better post-operation treatment. It had been theorized to work in the past, but only now are we able to implement it. As someone else noted, Bone marrow transplants are among the most difficult transplants.

Could also be a function of triage. AIDS patients may not have been high up the list for bone marrow.

"Treatment" provides a steady income stream, while cure stops all profit.