What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (often known as RA) is a debilitating and painful arthritic bone joint condition that severely limits mobility, range of motion, and quality of life. A painful condition, no cure is yet known for the disease process, although scientists and researchers have long been studying the effects of stem cell transplantation as a potential treatment.
Stem cell therapies focusing on relieving and reducing symptoms of those diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are under careful scrutiny by scientists and researchers around the globe.
Stem Cell Treatment for RA
In many facilities around the globe, stem cell treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has shown positive results on individuals who have failed to respond to standard treatments, including anti- inflammatory drug therapy.
Stem cell transplantation therapies performed by a leading stem cell research facility in the Ukraine has shown positive prognosis in mobility, pain, and increase in functional capacity following fetal or embryonic stem cell transplants. Nearly 80 patients followed in their study showed optimal function and relief of symptoms during remission periods following transplantation lasted between six months to three years.
Studies engaged throughout the world, including Central Europe, the United States, and Australia understand that rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, and that by replacing damaged cells in the body with healthy ones, remission may be possible. Bone marrow stem cell transplantation is one of the most common methods of treatment, also called autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and has shown promising results.
Scientists and researchers are also studying adult stem cell transplantation, and studies and Phase I clinical trials have been conducted at the Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States.
While stem cell therapies are not yet approved in the United States, progress in a wide range of studies and clinical trials offer hope for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis in the near future. Countries such as Japan, Germany, France, Britain and the Ukraine are also studying and perfecting stem cell technologies that help to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life, range of motion, and mobility in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
According to research and observation of patients engaged in fetal stem cell transplant studies performed at the National Medical University of Ukraine results with patient clinical trials within the test group experiencing fewer periods of inflammation, decreased pain, decrease in fatigue, restricted disease activity, increased mobility and function as well as improved quality of life. According to data released by the facility, most individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis clinical manifestations displayed a maximum decrease in symptoms 60 days after the stem cell transplantation, and clinical remission was successful in 85% of those cases.
Specifically studied were indices of inflammatory process activity, including:
Study results following treatment showed a marked decrease of all the above, most notably at the three month to 12 month post-treatment period.
Such positive and promising results in stem cell therapy also further research in blood and bone marrow stem cell transplants to treat autoimmune diseases and conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and will continue to offer patients diagnosed with the disease relief of pain, increased mobility, and improved quality of life as research technologies and treatments continue to improve. |
