2023-09-28 12:35:00
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The multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, affecting more than two million people worldwide and approximately 47,000 people in Spain alone.
The etiology of the disease is still unclear, but it is understood that its emergence is the result of the interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental and infectious elements, such as viruses and parasites. Environmental aspects include a lack of vitamin D, toxic agents in the environment, diet and harmful behaviors such as tobacco consumption.
Multiple sclerosis, a disease that affects young women more
This autoimmune disorder, where the immune system attacks the body itself, has been the subject of numerous research and treatments. Although there are several conventional therapies, a recent study proposes a radically different approach: autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
What are hematopoietic stem cells?
To understand the importance of this treatment, you must first understand what hematopoietic stem cells are. These cells are mainly found in the bone marrow and are responsible for giving rise to different types of blood cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Originally, this type of transplant was used to treat blood cancers such as leukemia.
The treatment involves extracting stem cells from the patient’s bone marrow and then growing them under controlled conditions. Subsequently, the patient receives chemotherapy to suppress his dysfunctional immune system. The cultured stem cells are then reintroduced into the patient’s bloodstream with the aim of “resetting” the immune system, stopping its attack on the body itself.
Hope against multiple sclerosis
The research, published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, included 231 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and evaluated outcomes using data from the Swedish MS registry and electronic medical records. Almost three quarters (73%) of patients showed no evidence of MS after 5 years and almost two thirds (65%) after 10 years. Furthermore, the annual relapse rate was dramatically reduced from 1.7 in the year before treatment to 0.035 during the follow-up period.
Although 61 patients developed a bacterial infection and 5 required intensive care within 100 days of treatment, the most common side effects were manageable, with febrile neutropenia (low white blood cell count accompanied by high fever) being the most prevalent.
This is an observational study, without a comparative group, which prevents drawing definitive conclusions, the researchers acknowledge. However, the study concludes that autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be considered a “standard of care for highly active MS.”
However, it has not yet been adopted into most national clinical guidelines for the treatment of MS. This debate highlights the need for more research and discussion in the medical field to adopt techniques that are proven to be safe and effective in the treatment of chronic diseases such as MS.
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