Multiple Sclerosis is thought to be an autoimmune disorder that attacks the immune system and central nervous system. During the early stages of MS, symptoms can include fatigue, paralysis of the limbs, balance problems, coordination problems, visual problems, sensory changes, psychological problems, bladder or bowel problems, weakness and tremors. Onset usually occurs between the ages of 20 to 50 and there is no cure.
Without a cure, the disease is able to continue its destruction on the body’s central nervous system and immune system. Over time, more severe symptoms arise. Relapses – a time period in which partial or full recovery can occur in between attacks – become less frequent. Recovery during the relapse period becomes less prominent, and in some cases, relapses discontinue altogether.
Treatments are available for MS sufferers, but treatments are only effective at slowing down the progression of the disease and pain management. Over time, changes in the disease can render treatments ineffective at delaying progression.
Researchers have been working feverishly to change all of this. They have struggled to come up with a cure but they now believe that the key may rest in stem cells. Currently, the results are preliminary and pretty much speculative, but stem cell therapy and transplant do have some promising potential.
What is a Stem Cell Transplant?
In stem cell transplant, the bone marrow is extracted from the patient. The stem cells are then frozen to help preserve them while the patient undergoes chemotherapy. Chemotherapy destroys the body’s original immune system – the immune system that is attacking itself. The patient then receives their stored immune systems cells by way of injection. This procedure is known as autologous non-myeloablative haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.
Multiple Sclerosis Stem Cell Transplant Research
Currently, stem cell transplanting is considered strictly experimental for MS patients. Some researchers believe, however, that the procedure shows great promise for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers. Richard Burt, M.D., chief of immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases at the Feinberg School is one of them. “In MS the immune system is attacking your brain. After the procedure, it doesn’t do that anymore,” Burt said.
In 2009, Burt and his colleagues recently conducted a study on 21 MS sufferers. All participants included in the study had RR-MS (relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis). Each participant had also received at least six months of interferon beta treatment, which they did not respond to. Three years after their stem cell transplant, 17 of the 21 patients (80%) improved by one point or more on the disability scale. All participants had stabilized (no progression).
Participants that responded best to the stem cell transplant were early stage MS patients. For this reason, Burt and his colleagues feel that early detection and treatment is key in making stem cell transplanting a success. Because the study is so small, however, there is a great need for more randomized testing. Burt and his colleagues have already launched a randomized national trial for stem cell transplantation in MS patients.
Understanding the Risk
Stem cell transplanting, like any other surgical procedure, comes with risk. Death is one of those potential risks. Eleven years ago, researchers in Greece performed a stem cell transplant in 35 patients. After the transplant, two of the participants die from transplant-related complications.
Death is also a potential risk with Multiple Sclerosis, especially progressive MS – the type of MS that is usually treated with stem cell transplants. So looking at the evidence, it is possible that at least two deaths would have occurred from the study group, had the participants not received the transplant. Instead, 25% of the patients that had received a transplant saw no progression in their condition over the eleven year period.
Timing is Everything
When looking at the Greek study in particular, it would appear that timing has a lot to do with the success of the stem cell transplants. Out of the 33 remaining participants that were in an inflammatory state when they received their transplant, 44% did not see a progression in their disease over the 11 year time period. Out of those that were not in an inflammatory at the time of transplant, only 10% saw no progression.
But unfortunately, there is no real way of determining which patients would have seen progression, had they not received the transplant because of how unpredictable MS can be. This data could make all the difference in determining which candidates are best suited for stem cell transplanting in the future.
Is There Hope for the Future of MS with Stem Cell Transplanting?
No one can really say for certain if there is any hope for stem cell transplanting in the future for MS patients, but stem cell transplanting has already been used for cancer for years. It has shown some promise for Multiple Sclerosis. So as researchers and doctors continue to fight for a cure, one thing is for certain; stem cell transplanting will continue to be a part of studies until it can be effectively proven useful or completely ruled out.