Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. The autoimmune attack includes auto-reactive lymphocytes and local inflammatory responses that cause demyelination and oligodendrocyte death followed by accumulating axonal damage and axonal loss. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white and grey matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery, but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms also occur.

 

Cause of MS

 The causes of MS are still uncertain, but many experts consider it to be an autoimmune disease. Viral infection is a factor and the individual affectability is decided by genetics and environmental factors as well.

 

Young adults are more affected by MS and females are more likely to contract it. The clinical manifestations are complicated and changing. The symptoms seem to be non-uniform so that it can be misdiagnosed sometimes.

Initial symptoms include local anesthesia and anergia of one or more parts of the extremities; pricking pain; cold; diminution of vision; blurry-eyed; double vision and so on. Some patients have the appearance of acute or progressive slight spastic paraplegia and anesthesia. There may be a period of catabasis before recrudescence. When the disease recurs, the symptoms can be the same as before or new symptoms could develop. The usual symptoms may include:

1. Paralysis, acratia or a feeling of ponderosity

2. Sensory disturbance

3. Dysequilibrium

4. Vision defects, double vision

5. Progressive atony

6. Acute myelitis

7. Pain

8. Sense of girdle

9. Cold in localized regions of the body

10. Dysarthria

11. Lhermitte´´s sign

12. Paroxysmal pruritus

 

Stem cell treatment:

We have developed a comprehensive program for MS patients combining both nerve stem cell activation and stimulation treatment and stem cells injections. 

The treatment includes immunotherapy to improve and adjust the function of the patient´´s immune system, and stem cell implantation, a "cocktail" of medications and neural nutrition materials given through IV, biofeedback treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation.

By employing all of the above methods we can maximally regulate the states of the immune system, improve symptoms such as eyesight problems, muscular weakness, sensory disturbance and paralysis of the body. The curative effect depends on the patient´´s medical condition. In general, younger MS patients have shown greater benefits from the stem cells treatment as the disease was not far advanced. Some patients had their MRI scans change to normal after half a year. But this does not mean that we can cure the disease completely. Current treatment has only proven that it can slow the progression of this active disease.

Autogenous Stem Cells Activation and Proliferation:

Under non-invasive procedures, through daily IV of an individually customized cocktail of neurotrophic medicines we activate the patient´´s own stem cells and thus turn these cells into nerve precursor cells. These have signalization and migrate to lesions along the nerve developing-chord.

Stem Cells Injections:

1. Before the injection of stem cells, we use immunosuppressors to stop the cause of MS

As an autoimmune disease, the main treatment aims to restrain the process of inflammatory demyelinating. So the treatment procedure will include an anti-immune treatment. The doctors will use some corticosteroid medicines such as methylpredisolone, dexamethasone and prednisone, etc. to adjust the function of the patient´´s immune system. And the interferon will be used to inhibit the function of their immune cells. But the treatment plan (like the dosage of those medications) is very important. The stem cells treatment will not interfere with the interferon.

With the cooperation of immunoloregulation, interferon treatment and stem cells treatment, the patients can get the greatest improvement.   

2. Collection and injection of autogenous stem cells:

First, the doctors will collect potential stem cells from bone marrow; secondly they will culture and proliferate them into Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC). This is done in cooperation with Beijing University. Usually this procedure needs 3-4 weeks to get the amount of MSC (4,000,000). Then the doctors will implant the Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) through the SCF (spinal cord fluid) by means of a lumbar puncture. Each injection has 5,000,000 stem cells. This procedure is short and simple, and it usually is done with local anesthesia. Yet, in order to prevent any risk of infection and maintain a strictly sterile environment, the procedure is done in the operating room by the experienced neurology doctor only.

The big advantage of this treatment is that there are no immune side effects since those stem cells are from the patient´´s own body; therefore, there is no need to use an immunosuppressant to restrain the immune rejection of these stem cells.

During the time of culturing the cells, we will proceed with the self stem cell activation program, as well as Chinese traditional medicine and a comprehensive rehabilitation program to the patients. The injection itself will be quite safe to be undertaken.

3. Neural stem cells injection:

When the patient suffers from some inherited disease (meaning that they have a genetic defect) or the patient is elderly, their autogenous stem cells will be unfit for the stem cells treatment. So under that condition, our doctor will advised neural stem cells treatment.

Neural stem cells are multipotent stem cells that can develop into a variety of cell types, including neurons and neural ganglia cells. Neural stem cells can be acquired conveniently. All the neural stem cells come from Peking University´´s Stem Cells research Center which is the largest and most qualified stem cell lab in China, where the cells have undergone rigorous tests according to our highly strict regulations. So the advantages are: Firstly, they are convenient and timesaving because they don¡¯t have to be cultured for a long time. Secondly, the neural stem cells are safe and sure in clinic therapy. In addition, those stem cells have good biological activity and they have little chance of bringing an immune response (immunological rejection) within the patients.

The method of stem cells injection is the same as autogenous stem cells injection which we had mentioned in the previous passage. 

The side effects of stem cells treatment:

The procedure can cause minor side effects for 2 to 3 days after the stem cells injection, such as fever, sleepiness, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. These side effects are expected and should not alarm or concern you. Some patients do not suffer any side effects.

Rehabilitation:

Rehabilitation therapy is very much a necessary part of the entire treatment regimen. The stem cell mobilization technique we use is combined with signal induction in the rehabilitation training procedure which can significantly improve the patient´´s neural function.

In our Rehabilitation Center we use different kinds of rehabilitation methods such as: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

 

Treatment period:

The recommended period of treatment is about 5-6 weeks.

Kind of stem cell:

Autogenous stem cell / neural stem cell

Before the stem cells treatment begins, the experienced doctor will give the patient a detailed examination and have an evaluation of their nervous system and immune system. They will make an appropriate stem cell treatment plan according to the patient´´s medical condition.

In general our doctor will advise autogenous stem cells treatment because there will be no immune side effects since those stem cells are from the patient´´s own body; but if the patient is too old, the doctor will introduce neural stem cells in that case because those stem cells have good biological activity and have the ability to differentiate easily.

 

Contraindication:

Pituitary tumor and Adrenocortical Hyperplasia are pointed specially by the doctor.

 

Medical plan procedure:

1. To end the cause of the disease, adjust and improve the patient´´s immunologic function.

2. Use some medicine to improve the internal microenvironment so that it is suitable for the subsistence of stem cells.

3. Stem cells implantation. Subarachnoid cavity injection.

4. Signal inductive treatment to contribute to stem cells fix planting in a particular location. This is according to the theory of immunology and endocrinology.

5. Prompt stem cells differentiation to help the neural precursor cells differentiate and develop into neurons, oligodendrocytes and neurogliocytes.

6. Form a remolding of neural networks (medicine treatment with assistance of effective rehabilitation).

Written By Dr. Xiaojuanwang and Dr. Li Ke Wu