Could MS patients be treated with HIV drugs?

In MS, body's immune system destroying nerves and their protective coating HIV patients are '62 per cent less likely to developmultiple sclerosis' Chronic dampening down of the immune system as a result of HIV - or the antiretroviral drugs used to treat - it could be reason behind lowered risk MS experts described the new study as 'valuable and intriguing'

By Anna Hodgekiss

Published: 17:40 EST, 4 August 2014 | Updated: 17:40 EST, 4 August 2014

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Drugs used to treat HIV could be used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), new research suggests.

Researchers found that people infected with HIV infection have a significantly lower risk of developing the debilitating nerve condition.

They say chronic dampening down of the immune system as a result of HIV - or the antiretroviral drugs used to treat - it could be the reason behind the lowered risk.

Multiple sclerosis - caused by the body's own defences attacking myelin, the fatty insulation surrounding nerve fibres (pictured) - could be treated with HIV drugs, new research suggests

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Could MS patients be treated with HIV drugs?