A small study recently showed that multiple sclerosis patients who received injections of stem cells taken from their own bone marrow had 80% fewer areas of brain damage over the next few years than those who were given the usual immune-system-suppressing drug, mitoxantrone. Researchers feel the study indicates that stem cell treatment may actually re-set the immune system and thus may profoundly influence progress of the disease. Results of the limited study–only 21 patients–were published in a recent online issue of Neurology.
Considered the most common disabling neurologic disease of young people, MS afflicts approximately a quarter of a million Americans. The symptoms of MS result from recurrent attacks of inflammation in the central nervous system. The disease is typically characterized by progressive loss of motor control and often leads to paralysis and is considered incurable so far.
More demonstration of the incredible promise of stem cell treatments. Nature’ way.
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