Hope for MS sufferers.
A phase 2 study of 24 volunteers has demonstrated impressive results by rebuilding the immune system using a patient’s own stem cells. Researchers found that more than 86 percent of the patients remained relapse free after three years, and nearly 91 percent showed no sign of disease progression.
Most of the multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who took part in the cutting-edge stem cell study HALT-MS are still in remission years later. The phase 2 study has demonstrated impressive results by rebuilding the immune system using a patient’s own stem cells.
Studying the volunteers who underwent stem cell transplants between 2006 and 2010, Dr. Richard A. Nash of the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute in Denver and his colleagues recently published their findings about the cutting-edge stem cell study HALT-MS.
Building a New Immune System, from the Ground Up
The goal was to reboot the patients’ immune systems. The researchers gauged success based on how long the patients remained relapse-free.
Patients were given high-dose immunosuppressive therapy, or HDIT, to erase their native immune system. Then, researchers reintroduced blood-forming stem cells that had been harvested from the patients’ own blood.
The treatment lasts about 21 days and the patients had to stay in close contact after their release. The chemo used to suppress their immune system has disadvantages, but researchers are encouraged by the success. Things are looking up for MS sufferers!
