How Will You Know If It's Working?

How will you know if it’s working? That is the question I get asked often. I wish there was an easy answer to that.

We are now 4 weeks post stem cell infusion. Janice has not felt any difference at all. She still has the same numbness and continues with daily fatigue.

Prior to Janice’s treatment I consulted with Professor Slavin via email. I asked several questions and he would respond to them. I will share this informatin with you from one of those emails.

“For your information, we are now in the process of clinical
application of innovative modalities for the treatment of neurological
disorders focusing on MS and related motor neuron diseases, based on
the use of multi-potential stem cells generated from patient’s own
bone marrow cells or from fat-derived liposuction. However, you and
the treating neurologist should be aware of the fact that we are
dealing with an experimental protocol, so although we promise to do as
much as we can, we can never promise successful outcome. “

“Please note: the treatment we can propose to patients with MS has two
major goals:

• Down-regulation of anti-self reactivity which causes the MS to start with

• Regeneration of neurological functions and enhance re-myelinization “

“The treatment we recommend is based on administration of mesenchymal
stromal cells (MSC) which can be prepared following culturing of
patient’s own bone marrow cells. Alternatively, fat-derived MSCs can
be prepared from liposuction of related [preferred] or even unrelated
donors. MSCs are a multi-potential stem cells that can suppress the
destructive autoimmune process and potentially regenerate lost
functions.”

So with that in mind, I assume that down-regulation of anti-self reactivity may take some time. It may be months or even years before we know if this has occurred.

Regarding the regeneration of neurological functions and enhancing re-myelinization- Since Janice has so many lesions it is hard to know which lesions are causing the numbness and fatigue, and exactly how long it will take to repair the myelin in these areas.

Again, this is experimental, so there are plenty of unanswered questions. We base our confidence on the results that we have documented from those that have gone before us and Professor Slavin’s expertise.

A link regarding the potential use of stem cells for the treatment of MS: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18325660?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed

Melinda