NursingNotes
  • login
  • signup
  • Latest News
  • Clinical Updates
  • Professional
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
NursingNotes
No Result
View All Result

Home > News

Stem cell treatment found to ‘freeze’ multiple sclerosis


21 February 2017

Researchers believe they have found a treatment which “resets” the immune system and can “freeze” progression of the disease in nearly half of patients.

The treatment could give hope to 100,000 people in the UK who are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), for which there is no known cure at present.



The study, led by Imperial College London, found that 46% of patients who underwent the treatment did not suffer a worsening of their condition for five years.

The trial treatment, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), was given to patients with advanced forms of the disease who had previous failed to respond to other treatments or medications.

In the trial patients are given a drug which encourages stem cells to move from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, where they are harvested from the body. Following this chemotherapy is administered to kill all immune cells, before the patient’s own stem cells were put back into the body to “reset” the immune system.

What is Multiple sclerosis (MS)? Multiple Sclerosis is a, currently incurable, degenerative disease that effects the central nervous system (CNS). The disease is caused by the immune system malfunctioning and mistakenly attacking nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.It leads to problems with movement, vision, balance and speech. Symptoms usually start in your 20s and 30s and it affects almost three times as many women as men (MSSociety).



Researchers believe they have found a treatment which “resets” the immune system and can “freeze” progression of the disease in nearly half of patients.

The treatment could give hope to 100,000 people in the UK who are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), for which there is no known cure at present.



The study, led by Imperial College London, found that 46% of patients who underwent the treatment did not suffer a worsening of their condition for five years.

The trial treatment, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), was given to patients with advanced forms of the disease who had previous failed to respond to other treatments or medications.

In the trial patients are given a drug which encourages stem cells to move from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, where they are harvested from the body. Following this chemotherapy is administered to kill all immune cells, before the patient’s own stem cells were put back into the body to “reset” the immune system.

What is Multiple sclerosis (MS)? Multiple Sclerosis is a, currently incurable, degenerative disease that effects the central nervous system (CNS). The disease is caused by the immune system malfunctioning and mistakenly attacking nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.It leads to problems with movement, vision, balance and speech. Symptoms usually start in your 20s and 30s and it affects almost three times as many women as men (MSSociety).




Popular

Close-up of rapid Covid-19 home lateral flow antigen test with positive result

Special paid leave for Covid sickness and isolation scrapped for NHS workers

1 July 2022

student nurse staff nurse

Student nurses ‘used and abused’ on placements

13 June 2022

Patient lying on bed while nurse writing on clipboard in hospital

Nurses told to stop ‘overworking’ by staying late without pay

27 June 2022

Insight

Busy A&E waiting room

‘The NHS is having its worst winter ever – and the reasons run much deeper than COVID’

28 January 2022

Hospital curtain intensive care

‘During the Downing Street Christmas Party we were caring for dying patients and forbidden from seeing family’

8 December 2021

Vaccine inPPE

‘Making vaccination compulsory for NHS frontline workers likely to make patients suffer’

19 November 2021


Related Posts

Nurse,Discussing,Test,Results,With,Patient
Clinical

Nurses, pharmacists, physios and OTs can now issue ‘sick notes’

4 July 2022
Crying Nurse-min
Workforce

Sharp rise in nurses off sick due to anxiety, stress, and depression

1 July 2022
Close-up the positive young nurse who is dialing medicine into the syringe indoors
Clinical

Hospitals reintroduce compulsory mask wearing for staff and patients

29 June 2022
NursingNotes

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk

Navigate Site

  • Who are we?
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Agenda for Change Pay Scales

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • Clinical
  • Education
  • Health Politics
  • Opinion
  • Resources

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk