
Treatment with MSC substantially reduces the rate of progressionĪnd yields a twofold extension of survival in those To WJ-MSC administration in all subgroups distinguished based Our study yielded highly encouraging results when it comes Overall survival was almost twice longer in MSC patients than In patients treated with MSCs versus the paired control group The course of the disease seemed to be slower after the therapy in comparison to the previous decline (Oh et al., 2015). Adverse drug reaction was noted in six patients (pyrexia, pain and headache). No serious adverse effects were noted during 12 months of follow-up. Seven out of eight patients received 2 doses within1 month.
ALS STEM CELL TREATMENT 2015 TRIAL
(2015) conducted an open label phase I clinical trial with intrathecal injections of autologous BM-MSC. The authors concluded that MSCs administration led to disease stabilization in 1-year period of follow-up since no significant deterioration in ALS Functional Rating Scale was noted (Prabhakar et al., 2012). Ten patients underwent a lumbar puncture with stem cell administration and no adverse effects were observed. Our results seem to demonstrate that MSCs represent a good chance for stem cell cell-based therapy in ALS and that intraspinal injection of MSCs is safe also in the long term.Ī study conducted by Prabhakar et al (2012) evaluated the influence of autologous BM-MSC on ALS disease course. The other 4 were happy with the results.įour patients show a significant slowing down of the linear decline of the forced vital capacity and of the ALS-FRS score. Stem cell therapies may modify disease pathophysi- ology, slow down or halt the progression of disease, and even improve neuromuscular function and motor unit pathology, possibly by providing protective factors to surrounding cells, modulating the host immune environ- ment, inhibiting inflammation, or even replacing injured cells ĩ patients received BM MSC’s between 7 million and 156 million cells.įollowed for 4 years – 3 patients passed away. In addition,they are not immunogenic, they release growth factors and haveimmune-suppressive featuresĬurrently available cell therapies may take advantage of a variety of stem cells to modify disease pathophysiology, slow down or even halt the progression of disease, possibly by providing protective factors to surrounding cells, modulat- ing the host immune environment, inhibiting inflamma- tion, or even replacing injured cells. The beneficial effects of stem cells is most likely indirect and due to paracrine activity.Īsyto derive and provide an abundant source of cells. The 2 main objectives are cellular replacement and neural protection. They can home in to sites of damage and stimulate tissue repair and regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can support motoneurons and surrounding cells, reduce inflammation, stimulate tissue regeneration and release growth factors. Stem cells are an exciting option for ALS as they can facilitate neuron replacement and regeneration. Over the past 20 years, the results of most clinical trials on other drugs have been disap- pointing Riluzole, the only FDA-approved treatment for ALS, has only a slight positive effect on survival and function in some patients and poses a high financial burden on pa- tients and their families. So ruling out other conditions is key, which may include a muscle biopsy, nerve conduction, spinal tap, etc.
ALS STEM CELL TREATMENT 2015 FREE
There are many theories about potential causes including mitochondrial dysfunction, free radical injury, autoimmune mechanisms, viral infection and others.ĭiagnosing ALS is tough and there is not a definitive test for it. The only environmental risk factor known is smoking. There may be a hereditary component in 10% of individuals. Unfortunately the cause of ALS is not well understood.

Half of those with ALS live over 3 years, and 25% live five years after being diagnosed. In the US, the incidence is 3/100,000 and in Europe it’s double at 6-7/100,000.

The total is about 30,000 cases with the average age at diagnosis of 55. In the US, about 5600 people are diagnosed with ALS each year. Typically the symptoms do not cause pain. As the disease progresses, it can affect one’s ability to eat, speak and breathe. Symptoms may include slurred speech, limb weakness, possibly muscle twitching. It’s also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in honor of the baseball player who developed it in the 1930’s. Currently there is no cure for ALS, and all too often doctors do not know why the disease occurs. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS, is a fatal, adult onset progressive disease of the nervous system affecting nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain.
