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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of spinal cord and cortical motor neurons. The symptoms are characterized by progressive muscle weakness, ending with death, usually resulting from respiratory failure, occurring 3-5 years from the first appearance of symptoms. Despite improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying ALS, in clinical practice the management of ALS remains essentially supportive and focused on symptom relief. However, over the past few years stem cell research has expanded greatly as a tool for developing potential new therapies for treating incurable neurodegenerative diseases.
We selected fifteen patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS) and treated them with autologous stem cells activation and xenogenous neuronal stem cells transplantation. Through lumbar puncture we injected 5 million xenogenous stem cells into the patient's CSF (cerebral spinal fluid). Every patient received 4 injections (one injection every 7 days).
During the follow-up period of 6 months after stem cell implantation, ten of the patients' conditions improved a lot compared with their pre-treatment; three patients were stable without any decline or improvement in their status. Two of the patients' condition worsened a little. No patient died. These results show that stem cell therapy is a safe, effective and promising treatment for ALS patients.
Stem Cell Treatment for ALS |
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ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that usually attacks both the upper and lower motor neurons and causes degeneration throughout the brain and spinal cord. A common first symptom is a weakness in the hands, feet, arms or legs, which occurs in more than half of all cases. Other early symptoms include speech, swallowing, or walking difficulties. The biological mechanisms that cause ALS are only partially understood. The only known cause of ALS is a mutation of a specific gene: the SOD1 gene. This mutation is believed to create a defective protein that is toxic to motor nerve cells.
We provide a unique program combining several therapies: 1. Before the stem cells treatment, a complete examination of the patient's condition will be done by our neurology doctors, including a body organs function check and an evaluation of the nervous system. 2. Medication to adjust the condition of the patient's immune system: according to the patient's clinical condition, an effective medication will be used to adjust the immune function, nourish neurons and clear away the internal microenvironment to protect the neurons and help the growing of stem cells. 3. Stem Cells Activation and Proliferation Treatment - Patients receive a daily IV of neurotrophic factors and medicines used to stimulate the production of the body's own stem cells. 4. Rehabilitation: The rehabilitation program is an integral part of stem cell therapy. The treatment includes daily physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions and a complementary Chinese traditional medicine treatment. 5. Stem Cell Implantation: Neural Stem Cell injections are delivered via lumbar puncture into the cerebral spinal fluid in four separate injections. Those stem cells will grow into neurons and rebuild new body neural innervations, at same time; the new neurons can nourish the peripheral nerves and nerve roots, fix the neural system damage and improve the muscular atrophy. The whole program length is about 5 to 7 weeks. |