Immune System Replacement
By the way, (and this is another MS crossover) the medical center in
Omaha is doing a study where they basically kill off your immune
system with chemo and radiation, and then replace it with a healthy
one. So far they claim to be having success with this in MS patients,
so I wonder what about diabetes, or asthma for that matter? If anyone
is interested, they are going to be having a seminar about this on
Oct 18. I really wish I could go, but work and class are both
interfering that day. If anyone would like the info, post and I’ll
get it on here as soon as I can.
January 7th, 2003 at 7:59 am
That sounds interesting, but how does one replace the immune system?
I would believe that it would be too complex and risky, considering
what makes up the immune system. I would also be concerned about the
harmful effects of chemo & radiation. I would like to see more info
on this. I do know a few people with MS and I would like to see what
they think.
January 8th, 2003 at 12:40 am
Here’s the newspaper article I have about it (you’ll have to forgive
typos- I’m in a bit of a hurry :-D)
MS is a chronic disabling disease of the central nervous system
caused by the immune system attacking nerve sheets in the brain. UNMC
is investigating a new therapy for MS by using autologous stem cell
transplantation (ASCT), a treatment for cancer. The hope is to reset
the immune system to a better functioning state and stop the
destructive process.
UNMC was first in the US to develop ASCT (transplanting a patient’s
own blood stem cells)for patients with lymphoma. It involves giving
high doses of chemotherapy, irradiation, and drugs to remove the
diseased immune system. Infused stem cells allow recovery of the bone
marrow and establish a new immune system.
This is an experimental therapy for a highly selected group of
patients with MS whose disability is progressing rapidly, but can
maintain good residual function.
Since 1996, 60 patients with MS have been transplanted in four US
centers. Results show that the therapy stabilizes and even midly
improves MS in 70% of the patients.
Because results are so encouraging, UNMC will be one of the major
sites for a National Institutes of Health study of ASCT for MS that
will compare this treatment to standard therapies.
*Insert promo for the neurology department here*
If you would like more information about ASCT therapy for MS, I ( the
Dr.) will be speaking at UNMC’s Mini-Medical School, First Line
Defense- The Immune System, on October 18. To register call 1-402-559-
4315, or visit www.unmc.edu/immune.
OK- this is me again :-). I just went to this site, and appearently,
you will be able to watch it on the internet, so anyone interested, I
encourage you to check it out.
PS- I didn’t feel like typing the whole neurology dept. promo!