Treating MS Symptoms With Stem Cells
Promising Northwestern University Trial Uses Patient's Own Stem Cells
To Treat Symptoms Of Multiple Sclerosis
(CBS) An estimated 400,000 Americans suffer from multiple sclerosis,
but the findings of a new clinical trial shows promise in the fight
to reverse symptoms of MS.
Researchers at Northwestern University conducted a trial using
patients' own stem cells to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis,
reports Early Show correspondent Debbye Turner Bell, and although the
study group was small -- only 21 patients participated in it -- the
findings are a huge breakthrough in the fight against MS.
Edwin McClure is strong and healthy now, but just four years ago, his
life was very different.
"I would get fatigued. I couldn't deal with the heat," McClure
said. "I had really bad balance."
In his senior year of high school, the star football player came down
with what he thought was a cold. Then his vision changed.
"It was kind of like somebody turned down a dimmer switch 30
degrees," McClure said.
It was a neurologist who diagnosed what was happening to Edwin.
"He said, 'You have the signs of multiple sclerosis,'" McClure said.
"And what did you think?" Turner Bell asked.
"I remember hearing my mom say, 'Oh no.'" McClure said. "This is a
disease 40-year-old white women get and I'm like 'I'm an 18-year-old
black male. Somebody didn't get the memo somewhere.'"
For the next two years, Edwin received the conventional drugs used to
manage MS, but his symptoms persisted. Then in 2005, he heard about a
clinical trial being conducted at Northwestern University in Chicago.
"This therapy is designed to reset your immune system," said Dr.
Richard Burt.
Burt led a study that looked at a completely new way to treat MS --
stem cell transplant. The patient's own stem cells are stimulated to
grow more cells, then harvested. Next, chemotherapy is used to wipe
out the immune system.
"It was rough," McClure said.
The treatment lasted nearly a month. Then Edwin's previously
harvested stem cells were transplanted back.
"They call it your birthday when you get re-infused," McClure
said. "So that birthday was January 21, 2006."
"When did you start thinking, 'This might have worked,'" asked Turner
Bell.
"When my hair started growing back," McClure said.
"Well now for the first time in battling MS, I think you can say
there's a study that's shown we've turned the tide against the
disease," Burt said.
And today, Edwin's symptoms of MS have completely disappeared.
"I really don't feel like I have multiple sclerosis anymore," he
said.
Edwin McClure and his mother, Bernice, visited The Early Show to
share more of his story. Click on the Play button below to see the
interview.
http://www.cbsnews.
.shtml
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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