| Types of Stem Cell Treatments for Scleroderma |
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 26 April 2010 14:19 |
 Scleroderma is a slowly debilitating terminal illness that robs the skin, limbs and vital organs through the process of pain upon exposure to cold and the tightening, thickening and in-elasticity of the skin. Scleroderma deposits connective tissue in places where it should not be. People diagnosed with this disease progressively have trouble moving and their organs slowly shut down. Stem Cells Work The recent studies done on stem cells, from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and the Northwestern Memorial Hospital, have shown promise in the reversal of many diseases, including Scleroderma. The choice of which kind of stem cell to use lies in the hands of the scientists, lab specialists and consumers. There are two major types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and cord blood stem cells. Embryonic Stem Cells Embryonic stem cells are those stem cells that obtained by the "harvesting" of female ova fertilized by male sperm. Embryonic stem cell transplantation involves the injection of these stem cells into a person's body. This process is essentially placing a piece of someone into someone else. It is comparable to blood transfusion, except that blood donors are living. Cord Blood Cord blood stem cells are those stem cells that are obtained from the blood of the umbilical cord of a baby that has just been born. They are just as effective as embryonic stem cells and companies such as Viacord and Cord Blood Registry tout improvement and healing in persons with numerous conditions. Stem Cell Transplantation Stem cell transplantation uses both embryonic stem cells and cord blood stem cells. It is comparable to a bone marrow transplant performed on someone who has leukemia. The standard process is to deplete the immune system and start from scratch. What fuels this process is the idea that taking out the old immune system and replacing it with a new one from stem cell transplantation, reprograms the body to destroy diseases, such as Scleroderma. SCOT Sometimes stem cell transplantation is paired with administering high doses of cyclophosphamide (popularly named Cytoxan) intravenously. Cytoxan is a drug commonly used to treat cancer. Pairing the two processes is called SCOT, which stands for Scleroderma: Cyclophosphamide or Transplantation. It's funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Treatments coming from two avenues--conventional and alternative medicine--seems to have a positive effect of reversing disease. Hematopoietic Cells Cord blood stem cells offer something that embryonic stem cells do not have: hematopoietic cells. Hematopoietic cells are stem cells that form only into any kind of blood cell: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Cord blood stem cell infusion and transplantation also reprograms the blood to deliver nutrients and function as normal. Going Alternative & Payoffs Some doctors skip the stripping of one's immune system to replace it with another. They simply administer the stem cells straight to the body. Stem cell transplantation involves long visits to the clinic or doctor where the patient is infused by an IV drip. Even though this is time consuming, it still is worth every moment, because it gives life back to the patient. Source: eHow |
More articles :
» 1st Systemic Sclerosis World Congress
The world's very first Systemic Sclerosis World Congress is to be held in Florence, Italy, next week from February 11-13th 2010. Carded primarily as an interdisciplinary conference for cardiologists, dermatologists, nephrologists, pulmonologists and...
» New Understanding of Skin Hardening Syndromes Found
New details about the underlying mechanisms of skin hardening syndromes, morphea, have been discovered by researchers from (BUSM). Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a disorder characterized by leading to thickening of the dermis,...
» Amira Pharmaceuticals Announces Efficacy of LPA1 Antagonist in a Preclinical Model of Scleroderma
Amira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that their collaborators, Andrew Tager, M.D. and Flavia V. Castelino, M.D. of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, will present a preclinical proof-of-concept study which demonstrates...
» Natural Alternatives for Dealing With Scleroderma
In a recent article, it was noted that conventional medicine attempts to treat the symptoms of with immunosuppressant drugs, NSAIDS and , but has no cure and little advice for prevention. It was noted however, that the world of natural healing has...
» Children Get Scleroderma Too
Juvenile is a rare childhood condition characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Clinical manifestations of childhood Scleroderma are different from adult disease and early recognition, correct classification and treatment can...
» A Checklist For Scleroderma Patients
The has published a quite useful checklist of items, which has been found useful to patients. They have noted that the list is by no means comprehensive, but is intended as a guideline to assist Scleroderma patients, and was developed by patients...