Risky stem cell treatment 'halts progress of multiple sclerosis'

Conclusion This early-stage trial aimed to look at a new treatment approach for MS, involving aggressive chemotherapy followed by haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Researchers then assessed whether this had an impact on clinical relapse and disability. The study suggests that eliminating an individual's existing "faulty" immune system, and rebuilding it using stem cells, may slow down or completely halt the progression of MS, resulting in an improvement in disability status. Although the study's findings suggest this could be a potential treatment in the future, the researchers say caution is necessary before it is widely adopted in clinical practice. This was very early-stage research, with a small sample size and no control group for comparison with those who were treated. The findings were positive overall, but the retention to longer-term follow-up was quite low, with only around half being followed up beyond three years. This means although there were no documented relapses and around a third improved functional ability during follow-up, these results could be different with a much larger sample size. Also, the fact there was one death among the 24 treated patients and toxic side effects were common cannot go unnoticed. Dr Payam Rezaie, a reader in neuropathology at The Open University, commented: "While this study does add considerable weight to the use of autologous HSCT as a therapeutic approach for MS, it is difficult to make a more gen...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Genetics/stem cells Neurology Source Type: news