Stem Cell Therapy is Safe and Effective for Relapsing MS (Multiple Sclerosis), according to recent studies.
“Stem cell therapy,” might sound like something out of a science fiction movie. But it’s a real medical treatment that has been researched for years.
First, let’s talk about MS.
What is MS?
In MS, the immune system damages the brain and spinal cord. This happens “when myelin, a white fatty coating that insulates the body’s nerves, is mistakenly labeled as a foreign invader, [and is then] attacked, and stripped from the nervous system by the immune system. Without insulation, neurons lose their important ability to conduct electrical signals.” (PBS.org)
The cause of this happening is unclear; but 2.3 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with MS.
Symptoms of MS:
- Fatigue
- Numbness or tingling in face, body or extremities
- Muscle weakness, and spasms
- Dizziness and vertigo
- Sexual problems
- Pain
- Emotional changes
- Walking difficulties
- Stiffness
- Vision problems
- Bladder and Bowel problems
- Cognitive changes
- Depression
Relapsing MS – What is it?
Relapsing MS is a type of MS where patients have episodes of worsening symptoms (these are called relapses) followed by periods of recovery. It’s like having good days and bad days, but with your health. What makes stem cell therapy exciting for Relapsing MS is that it aims to not only treat the symptoms during a relapse but also to help prevent future relapses, making the good days more common.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are like the body’s raw materials. “Master cells” (as they are sometimes called) are produced in the bone marrow, and develop into the brain, blood, bones, and organs. (Healthline.com) They have the potential to repair or replace damaged cells in our bodies.
In the context of MS, “Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, or aHSCT for short, … involves harvesting stem cells from the person’s own bone marrow or blood.” (BMJ.com)
What is involved in aHSCT?
Depending on the doctor and medical center, treatment protocols vary, but the general steps are the same:
- Chemotherapy is given for up to 10 days. “This stimulates production of bone marrow stem cells and promotes their release into the blood.”(National Multiple Sclerosis Society) Then blood is drawn and the stem cells in that blood are stored for later use.
- The patient is then hospitalized and given more powerful chemotherapy for up to 11 days, which kills the immune cells in the body.
- The stored stem cells are put into the bloodstream through a vein.
- An antibiotic is usually given to help combat infection.
- The immune system begins to rebuild itself. The patient will remain in the hospital for two to four weeks, possibly longer, depending on side effects experienced.
The big question: Is this process safe?
Is stem cell therapy safe?
Recent studies and clinical trials have shown that stem cell therapy, specifically for treating relapsing MS, is not only safe but also effective. This means that for many patients, this therapy can help reduce the symptoms of MS and improve their quality of life. Of course, like any medical treatment, there are risks, and it’s not suitable for everyone. That’s why doctors carefully evaluate each patient to see if this therapy is a good fit for them.
Who is a good candidate for aHCST?
“An MS specialist with knowledge of aHSCT can help you understand whether the procedure is right for you. They can discuss benefits and risks and review alternative options for treatment.
Studies show that aHSCT may be safe and effective for patients who:
- Have relapsing-remitting MS
- Are less than 50 years of age
- Have had MS for less than 10 years
- Have new inflammatory lesions on MRI and/or relapses despite treatment with a high-efficacy Disease Modifying Therapies (DMT) or are unable to take a high-efficacy DMT”
Benefits:
Clinical trials show aHSCT can reduce relapses, especially for people with relapsing MS. Some patients have more stable or improved symptoms.
Patients who have progressive MS had encouraging results when treated early in their condition, when there was still evidence of inflammation. aHSCT has also “been shown to slow clinical progression in a few people with early secondary progressive MS.”
Risks:
“HSCT is not approved for MS in the U.S., where it is considered an experimental treatment, but the procedure is supported by the National MS Society for patients with very active disease who haven’t responded well to other disease-modifying treatments.” (MultipleSclerosisNewsToday.com)
Because it is a very aggressive treatment, aHSCT comes with high risks and complications:
- Increased, long-term risk of developing infections
- Increased risk of developing cancer and autoimmune conditions
- Early menopause
- Fertility problems
Factors associated with increased risk of life-threatening side effects following aHSCT include:
- Older age
- Greater disability
- Certain health conditions (for example, heart or lung disease) (NationalMSSociety.org)
Of course, the chemotherapy itself has side effects as well:
- Bleeding and bruising
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Hair loss
Also, patients who have a high level of disability before transplant may have more loss of mobility and worsened neurological function.
Clinical Trial Statistics
110 patients who had relapsing-remitting MS participated in a clinical trial at 4 US, European, and South American MS centers. Patients were randomly given either the HSCT treatment or another DMT (disease-modifying therapy), different from the classes they had previously used.
Disease progression: Only three out of 55 patients receiving HSCT showed progression after a year. However, 34 out of the 55 patients who received the DMT showed progression after a year. In the HSCT group, 2% of patients had disease progression after two years, 5% after three years, and 10% after years 4 and 5. By contrast, in the DMT patients, almost 25% showed progression of disease after one year, more than 50% after two years, and just under 75% at five years.
Disease Relapse: In the first year, 69% of patients relapsed in the DMT group compared with (2%) of patients who relapsed in the HSCT group. (NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov)
If you’re considering HSCT, talk to your neurologist to find out if it may be the right treatment for you.
Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for relapsing MS. It’s been found to be safe and effective for many patients, offering hope for better management of this challenging condition. As research continues, hopefully, there will be even more advancements in this field, making the future brighter for those living with MS.
To find MS centers in South Carolina, click here.
Contact The Law Offices of David L. Hood for a Free Medical Malpractice Consultation
If you or someone you care about has suffered because of medical negligence, please schedule your free consultation by calling the Law Offices of David L. Hood at (843) 491-6025 or filling out our brief online contact form.
We know how difficult it can be to deal with the immediate and long-term effects of a serious malpractice-related injury. At The Law Offices of David L. Hood, we work hard to make things simple for you. After a free case evaluation, if we believe we can help you and your family, Medical Malpractice Attorney David L. Hood, co-counsel, and our team of experts will vigorously pursue your case to get you the best result we can achieve. Let us put years of experience to work for you!
*Clients are not liable for any expenses, unless there is a recovery in their case; however, if there is a recovery in their case, clients will be liable for expenses. Attorney’s fees are based on a percentage of the recovery, which will be computed before deducting expenses.
Other online resources used for this article:
