what are the results for spinal cord injury.David

Ex-Pro-Wrestler


-----Original Message-----
From: kirshvaden
Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 10:28 AM
To: stemcellsafety@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [stemcellsafety] Treat Multiple Sclerosis: Study May Be Key To
Unlocking A Cure

United Spinal Association Reports Positive Results Of Stem Cell Transplantation
To Treat Multiple Sclerosis: Study May Be Key To Unlocking A Cure
Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis
Also Included In: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 09 May 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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In article published in the Summer 2009 edition of Multiple Sclerosis Quarterly
Report, a joint publication of United Spinal Association and the North American
Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS), highlights the positive
initial results of patients who have improving neurologic function after
receiving a stem cell transplant, despite no longer taking any MS medications.

The results are reported in a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored
study called HALT-MS to confirm whether high-dose immunosuppression followed by
autologous stem cell transplantation will prevent MS attacks in patients who are
not responding to available treatment options and ultimately protect against the
degeneration of nerve fibers.

The article, written by George H. Kraft, MD, MS, director of the Western MS
Center in Seattle, Washington, and colleagues, reveals the promising outcomes of
the first three patients entered into the HALT-MS Study, including a 27-year-old
woman with an 8-year history of relapsing MS who was treated with five different
MS drugs, but continued to have relapses.

The study involves wiping out the patient's immune system through high-dose
chemotherapy or other means, such as radiation, to destroy most blood cells and
bone marrow. Blood "stem cells" with the capacity to generate new blood and
immune cells are then transplanted into the patient. These stem cells can either
be the patient's own or those from a matched donor. Once the cells are
transplanted, they repopulate the bone marrow and restart building all the cell
types found in the blood, a process called "engraftment". After transplantation,
the patient would effectively have a "new" immune system that would not attack
nerves in the brain and spinal cord as seen in MS.

Currently, there are approximately 400 patients with MS worldwide who have been
treated with stem cell transplantation. Research demonstrates that patients with
highly active forms of relapsing-remitting MS have responded best to treatment.

The Halt-MS Study is taking place at four centers in the US: The Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center/University of Washington Western MS Center; Ohio State
University; Baylor College of Medicine; and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and is
currently open to participants with severe relapsing forms of MS.

United Spinal is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization formed
in 1946 by paralyzed veterans and is dedicated to improving the quality of life
for all Americans with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida,
ALS and post polio. It has played a significant role in writing the Americans
with Disabilities Act, made important contributions to the Fair Housing
Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Membership is free and is open to
all individuals with spinal cord disorders.

Source: United Spinal Association



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