Multiple sclerosis , or MS , is an autoimmune disorder that involve the brain and spinal electric cord . The immune system destroy the affected role ’s own myelin , the protective tissue layer wrapped about the nerves , thus disrupting communicating with the central aflutter system . About 50 percent of affected role are unable to walk 25 years after their diagnosis .
Rather than inhibit the immune organisation with a mellow dose of drugs , a proficiency called autologous hematopoietic stalk cell transplantation ( HSCT ) hopes to reset the immune system . Hematopoietic simply come to to stock , and autologous means using one ’s own cellular phone , instead of those from a donor . So what happens is , after low - sexually transmitted disease immunosuppressive drug are distribute to dampen the body ’s response , stem cells harvested from the affected role ’s blood are infused back .
Northwestern ’s Richard Burtand co-worker examine the outcomes of 145 MS patient who were treated with this bow cubicle transplant during test between 2003 and 2014 . Specifically , the patient role — who range in old age from 18 to 60 years old — have retrogress - put off multiple sclerosis : Symptom flash - ups are followed by periods with little or no symptoms . The patient were periodically tested ( 2.5 years on average ) with theExpanded Disability Status Scale ( EDSS ) , which measures the function of the brainstem and sensational and optic system , among other things .
The team found significant improvement in 41 patients tested after two year — that ’s about 50 percent of the patient role who were tested at that time interval . For patients tested at four years , they found similar betterment in 23 patients , or 64 percent of the patients tested . Patients who received HSCT evidence improvement in physical and cognitive function as well as quality of life , the researchers report . Furthermore , MRI imaging showed a reduction in the book of brain lesions .
After four years , the relapse - free survival of the fittest was 80 percent . And the four - yr progression - free survival was 87 percent . However , the EDSS mark did not improve in patient role with secondary - progressive MS or in those who ’ve had MS for more than 10 years .
Theresultsof this preliminary study ( observational and without a control group ) were published this calendar week inJAMA , the Journal of the American Medical Association . Burt ’s team is presently conducting a gravid field of study to compare HSCT with drugs to manage MS that have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration . There are currently no therapy for relapsing - remit multiple induration that can significantly invert the disability .
[ ViaJAMA connection Journals release ]
