According to a story from finanzen.at, a recent early stage clinical study showed positive results from an innovative stem cell therapy treatment. In the study, this therapy was able to improve walking ability for patients with multiple sclerosis, a disease which can cause serious movement disability. The results of the study were first published in The International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research.
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease which is characterized by damage to the myelin sheath, a fatty, insulating, protective covering that surrounds nerve cells and allows them to communicate effectively. Although a precise cause has not been determined, multiple sclerosis is considered an autoimmune disease, in which a certain trigger, such as an infection, may cause the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue. Smoking and certain genetic variants are also considered risk factors for the disease. Symptoms include blurred vision, double vision, blindness in one eye, numbness, abnormal sensations, pain, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, difficulty speaking and swallowing, mood instability, depression, loss of coordination, and fatigue. There are a number of treatments available for the disease, but no cure. Life expectancy for patients is slightly reduced. To learn more about multiple sclerosis, click here.
Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
The approach utilizes stem cells from the patient’s body. This reduces the chances of rejection by the body’s immune system. These stem cells are extracted from the patient, modified, and the reintroduced into certain areas of the patient’s brain. The mechanism of action is based on an understanding of multiple sclerosis as a vascular disease. The introduction of stem cells is intended to help protect the brain from neurotoxic substances.
The study included 31 multiple sclerosis patients. Impact of the therapy was measured using the 25 foot walk test. 28 of the 31 patients says improvements in their walking performance ten days after treatment. The average improvement was 22 percent. The study included patients with both the relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis and the less common progressive form, suggesting that this approach could be useful for patients with either form. No adverse events were reported during the study.
