Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is an incurable
disease. Currently, 5,000 Americans are diagnosed with what is also called Lou
Gehrig’s disease each year. Every step towards a possible therapeutic solution
is a huge step, no matter how small.
The causes of ALS are still unknown. The disease breaks down
the nerves in the spinal cord and brain that control muscle function in the
body. As the muscles weaken, they eventually stop working properly. Once this
effect hits the diaphragm and chest area, patients lose the ability to breathe
without assistance. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, most
patients die of respiratory breakdown caused by Lou Gehrig’s within the first
three to five years.
Recently, a team from Emory University reported that stem
cell therapy is safe for ALS patients.
In a small, early stage study on only 15 patients, data
showed that the majority of them reacted well to high doses of stem cells
injected into the spine, which is damaged by the disease. Only two of the ALS
patients showed negative complications after the injections.
Although this is an important step towards a helpful
treatment for ALS patients, it is only a start. Researchers are still unclear
as to whether the injections provide any benefits to patients, they only can
report that it is a safe procedure.
Several questions about the procedure remain, including
whether it is safe as a long term treatment because stem cells can grow
uncontrollably fast, sometimes causing cancer. Researchers are also hoping to
discover the ways in which the therapy can help to slow the effects of ALS or
even cure it.
If stem cells can actually infuse into the spine, they could
release the type of chemicals that can shield nerve cells and the connections
they have to muscles, slowing the degenerative process of ALS. The healthy
nerve cells would be able to stay healthy longer, which would be a big win for
ALS patients.
So far, the 15 patients responded fairly well to the stem
cell injections of from 2 million to 16 million cells. Most patients experienced
slight side effects of pain and reactions to the immune-suppressing drugs they
had to take after each injection.
However, two patients developed serious reactions, including
a swelling of the spinal cord and experiencing chronic pain. Doctors feel that
these symptoms may be side effects that patients with a fatal diagnosis may be
willing to accept, especially if it is proven that stem cell therapy has long
term benefits. Time will tell.