'Radical' stem cell trial offers hope for MS patients

[MSUK]

Jason McIntyre's autoimmune system is dead. The rest of him isn't feeling much better. Eleven days ago he underwent an aggressive chemotherapy, not for the sake of killing cancer - but to knock out every skerrick of protection his body has against infection.

Sitting in a freezer were 35 million stem cells that were shaken from Mr McIntyre's bone marrow by a combination of drugs. These were filtered from his blood about three weeks ago. That process, he says, left him with aching bones. It was his birthday.

If he survives long enough - that is, if a piece of dust doesn't get in his eye and spark a fatal infection - the stem cells will this week be returned to his body, as building blocks for a brand new autoimmune system......... Read More - http://www.ms-uk.org/stemcells

[chowder1]

I have read this article before and it is poor journalism at, at best. HSCT is very safe and proven effective to stop progression of MS. Granted, it's a rough couple of years, but everyone says its worth it.

[NHE]

I have read this article before and it is poor journalism at, at best. HSCT is very safe and proven effective to stop progression of MS. Granted, it's a rough couple of years, but everyone says its worth it.

Indeed! We don't have an "autoimmune system" and if we did, we certainly wouldn't want a new one. Clearly, the article was written by somebody who is clueless about biology.

[CureOrBust]

stem cell transplants have a claimed 70 per cent success rate at halting some types of MS.

Lisa Melton, research development manager with MS Research Australia, said about 40 patients in Australia were known to have undergone the therapy, with mixed results. Most of the treatments were carried out at the discretion of treating doctors on compassionate grounds at different centres around the country.

It does not seem to have worked for everyone.