Stem cell research has led to the development of a new treatment to help numerous autoimmune diseases. Dan Muscat, a 49-year-old from Ontario has been suffering from systemic scleroderma since 2014. The disease which causes overproduction of collagen is very debilitating and if left untreated has a low survival rate. After being told he only had months to live, Muscat researched treatment options from stem-cell therapy. He learned of a Dr. Harry Atkins, a stem-cell therapy specialist that developed a stem cell transplantation treatment for auto-immune diseases. The treatment involves harvesting the patients stem cells, chemotherapy and reintroducing cleaned stem cells back into the body. This treatment has continually kept patients in remission including Mr. Muscat.
Key Takeaways:
- Dr. Atkins has helped develop stem cell transplantation for other autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, stiff person syndrome and myasthenia gravis, a condition characterized by muscle weakness.
- According to the CSCF, there is evidence that stem cell transplants can induce sustained remissions in patients with other severe autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis.
- Stem cells are also being explored as treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), septic shock, osteoarthritis, diabetes, macular degeneration and to prevent scarring after heart attacks.
“”Once the immune system behaves properly and stops damaging the skin, the skin seems to heal itself.””
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/stem-cells-offer-new-hope-for-scleroderma-patient-1.3224961
