Stem Cell Research for Multiple Sclerosis
“Stem Cell Transplants may be More Effective than the drug Mitoxantrone for People with Severe Cases of Multiple Sclerosis” This was a phase-II clinical trial with 21 patients at least age 36 who required cane or crutch assistance to walk. All 21 patients received immunosuppressant medication. For this study, 12 patients were then treated with Mitoxantrone – which reduces immune system activity. 9 patients were treated with stem cell therapy using their own bone marrow derived adult mesenchymal stem cells injected back into their vein. Follow-up with all patients occurred over a 4 year period. Results indicate that patients who received stem cell therapy had significant reduction of disease activity – 80% fewer new areas of damage to their brain compared to patients who were treated with Mitoxantrone. Another noted result was that patients treated with stem cells had no new gadolinium-enhancing lesions while 56% of those treated with Mitoxantrone had at least one new lesion. Conclusions from this study were that a larger patient population randomized trial should be conducted. Although this study was a small sample size, results are promising for using stem cell therapy as a treatment for people with severe cases of Multiple Sclerosis. (February 11, 2015).
Tags: Bone Marrow Derived Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurological Disease treatment, Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cell Treatment