Hematopoietic Stem Cell Treatment (HSCT)
Whilst writing this story/journey, I have noticed a marked increase in the interest in Stem Cell Treatment. I also am following a number of people who have been through the process and are (hopefully) on their way to full recovery.
Plus a number of people I am conversing with asked my opinion, so I am investigating and below are my findings (so far) and how it specifically relates to CIDP (once again apologies to any medical persons reading this about the potential inaccuracies, but I am trying to make this understandable to the common man and your journals/publications certainly are not!):
Plus a number of people I am conversing with asked my opinion, so I am investigating and below are my findings (so far) and how it specifically relates to CIDP (once again apologies to any medical persons reading this about the potential inaccuracies, but I am trying to make this understandable to the common man and your journals/publications certainly are not!):
Why Stem Cells
There is currently no certain cure for GBS or CIDP. The consultants are divided 50/50 for CIDP whether you are given IVIG or Steroids and one of these seems to assist most of the time, but no one knows why and there may be relapses, plus complications. In a fairly large number of cases the treatments delay the impact of CIDP, but don't actually cure it and the longer the treatments go on the worse the side effects get.
What this does is allow for certain patients systems to "recover", however there are plenty of people who don't and so.
There must be a better way....
There is currently no certain cure for GBS or CIDP. The consultants are divided 50/50 for CIDP whether you are given IVIG or Steroids and one of these seems to assist most of the time, but no one knows why and there may be relapses, plus complications. In a fairly large number of cases the treatments delay the impact of CIDP, but don't actually cure it and the longer the treatments go on the worse the side effects get.
What this does is allow for certain patients systems to "recover", however there are plenty of people who don't and so.
There must be a better way....
What Are Stem Cells
Stem Cells are general (underdeveloped) cells from a body that can turned into specialised cells (matured, for specific purposes) and then can be divided to produce more cells of that type. There seem to be two types:
The stem cells can be taken from a number of areas, blood and bone-marrow are the most relevant one to CIDP. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) seems to be the medical term applied to the most likely treatment. This has been proven to work in lukemia, MS and cancer treatments for the boosting/replacement of the auto-immune system which has been impacted by the treatment (chemotherapy or radiotherapy). The thoughts are it should work with CIDP?
Stem Cells are general (underdeveloped) cells from a body that can turned into specialised cells (matured, for specific purposes) and then can be divided to produce more cells of that type. There seem to be two types:
- Embryonic - taken from birth
- Adult - found in various tissues (in an adult) - these are the ones that scientists seem most interested in
The stem cells can be taken from a number of areas, blood and bone-marrow are the most relevant one to CIDP. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) seems to be the medical term applied to the most likely treatment. This has been proven to work in lukemia, MS and cancer treatments for the boosting/replacement of the auto-immune system which has been impacted by the treatment (chemotherapy or radiotherapy). The thoughts are it should work with CIDP?
What is HSCT?
In simple terms HSCT is using you own cells (rather a lot of them!) to create new cells once the bad ones have been zapped! There are three main phases to HSCT as far as the patient is concerned:
A couple of pictures outlining the collection/complete process:
In simple terms HSCT is using you own cells (rather a lot of them!) to create new cells once the bad ones have been zapped! There are three main phases to HSCT as far as the patient is concerned:
- Preparation and collection of cells
- Destruction of existing cells - via chemotherapy
- Replacement and recovery - in isolation
A couple of pictures outlining the collection/complete process: