Stem cell therapy for RA

[Padram]

Hi all, happened to come across this blog, in my search for combating RA pain. So just wanted to share it.

itsjustabadday.com/2015/12/...

Have a great day.

[helixhelix]

It seems that stem cell therapy has been helpful for things like torn cartilage, although as ever mixed reviews.

However, I'd recommend people also look at the NHS page on this

nhs.uk/news/2008/12December...

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to helixhelix]

Yes - there's an interesting clinical trial in London at present where they're using stems cells to treat achilles tendon tears. I'm interested in the results to see if this will be offered as a trial for shoulders in the future (I'd do a lot to avoid surgery) because, unless it's restricted to recent injuries, I'd definitely volunteer.

It definitely needs some trials to ascertain what is hype and what is reproducible and verifiable.

[nomoreheels]

I always question, look for disclaimers & research before sharing information on 'cures' or anecdotes of 'promising results'. For anyone who's interested my research includes checking if the UK regulatory agencies, peer reviewed scientific papers & checking on the ARUK site to see if whatever I've thought of possible interest is approved. The reason I questioned your link is that I am aware that there are companies, some unprincipled private clinics abroad (healthcare companies) who desperate people believe the promises offered & who happily take their money without subsequent liability. Unfortunately in this case, stem cell therapy for autoimmune disorders, I'd found many so checked further & whilst the link makes good reading & in some trials the results have been considered to be equal to some biologics, it's not going to be widely available here for some time yet. That also relies on if the ongoing trials prove it to be safe & indeed it's rolled out as a treatment option for RD, PsA, OA & others in the musculoskeletal group. From what I've read so far some results have been comparable to treatment with one of four Jakinase Inhibitors. This class hasn't even received their license for treatment of RD in the UK so I'm surmising if/when stem cell therapy is licensed possible suitable candidates will be required to try biologics & at least one of the four JAK Inhibitors before being considered for the treatment.

Currently the private clinics offering this 'service' abroad charge what equates to tens of thousands of £'s with no guarantees. The research experts here, Professors, are concerned enough about this to have issued a warning to patients not to allow their hopes to be raised by stories appearing in the media and on the internet & use foreign clinics. They've cited the worrying truth of some patients as having had serious complications & even death as a result of believing the hype & being swayed to use these clinics so receiving unproven & unlicensed treatment. It's no small procedure either, as said very risky, but this isn't covered in the link you give, although it may in the further links within the blog, I haven't read those because, as mentioned before, I check the position on the UKCTG site. Of course the UK regularity agencies won't consider it before it's proven to be safe & effective so whilst the trials (up to stage 2) are promising past history shows some have failed at the last stage or before if it's a 4 stage trial. A quick check on the ARUK site (a search for 'Current Research' & 'Stem Cell trials' will take you to various proposed & ongoing trials, arthritisresearchuk.org/sys.... They reveal far more information than one blogger's experience I'm afraid.

Sorry to be a bit of a wet blanket but premature hope is my bête noire, research & having the full facts & therefore being better informed is more reliable when we're sharing publications. This isn't a grump at you Padram by the way. To end on a positive note one Professor has stated that "stem cell therapy whilst it has been hyped up certainly has huge potential – we just need to learn how to harness it properly.... we need to find out if it is cost-effective. If a few years can be saved, the benefit to the patient with OA may be not to prevent the need for a joint replacement, but to prevent need for a revision of a joint replacement.” Use of stem cell therapies to treat OA is still experimental – and routine clinical use is probably still several years away.

By way of latest info but also a bit of fun, research of a new study published on 22.5.17 "researchers were also able to pick out a key protein called Yap that appears to regulate these stem cells and their ability to contribute to cartilage repair, finding that when a joint is injured and the synovial membrane is enlarged, the presence of Yap in the stem cells increases.". Don't you just love that thought, it creates an image of little doggies inside our knees! 🐶

[Padram in reply to nomoreheels]

Well researched, nomoreheels. 👏

[nomoreheels in reply to Padram]

Ahh, well. What I didn't divulge is I have a vested interest in AVN, hence the research. Thanks though Padram. 🙂

[pixielink in reply to nomoreheels]

Gosh nomoreheels, your very good at answering. I may not reply much but I read the posts a lot. Thank-you for your time and trouble you take, not forgetting the information you give out. OX.

[nomoreheels in reply to pixielink]

Thank you Pixielink x😊

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to nomoreheels]

nomoreheels There was a very sobering piece about how badly stem cell use as a therapy can go wrong and dubious organisations on Science Based Medicine: sciencebasedmedicine.org/pa...

[nomoreheels in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

Sobing indeed, unbelievable. Those poor misguided women, their lives changed completely forever. More evidence of the unscrupulous being out there.

[Hidden]

When I was first diagnosed with RA, I came accross a post written from a person located in the USA about RA being cured with stem cells. A reply to this post stated the only "legal" stem cell company was located in Burnaby BC. I got so excited because this world reknown company is only 15 miles away from me. Needless to say I drove the 15 miles to be cured. I painfully walked into the reception and was greeted by security. I was informed that stemcells were harvest & grown in this building and shipped to Universities in North America & around the world for research. As of yet stemcells do not cure any autoimmune diseases. I was also informed that anyone selling stemcell cures for autoimmunity here should be reported to Health Canada.

A good read from the Canadian Stemcell Foundation & arthritis

stemcellfoundation.ca/en/di...