Scientists in the United States are about to commence a five year, Phase II clinical trial using stem cells to treat lupus. It is a ground breaking trial supported by the Lupus Foundation of America and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The researcher team will be using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat patients who have moderate-to-severe lupus.
Lupus is an inflammatory disease that occurs when the immune system attacks its own tissue. The main symptoms include joint pain, fatigue, rash, bone loss, fever, hair loss, anaemia, and muscle pain. Lupus affects about 5 million people worldwide and there is currently no cure for the condition.
Sandra C. Raymond, the CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America described the importance of the project, saying: “Robust funding is vital to moving lupus research forward. Without sufficient funding from public and private resources, research treatments will be delayed, and the search for better treatments and cures will be seriously impaired.”
The trial will be conducted in the United States, with patient enrolment beginning in the coming months. The study will test the efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cells obtained from umbilical cords for treating adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Each patient will randomly receive a dose of stem cells or a placebo. There will be two types of stem cell treatments used, with one delivering one million stem cells per kg while the other will deliver five million cells per kg.
Researchers will then monitor the participants to determine if the stem cell treatment improves their condition. They will also look for any side effects experienced by the patients after receiving their transfusion.
The research team will also look for changes in the patient’s SLEDAI scores, which measure the frequency of lupus flare-ups, perceived quality of life, and accumulation of new damage.
This is not the first time that Lupus has been treated using stem cells. A Chinese study found that patients who did not benefit from traditional forms of treatment often benefited from stem cells.
Animal studies have also found that stem cell treatments can also prevent bone loss, reduce inflammation, and reduce kidney disease — which are all symptoms of lupus.
Source: Clinical Trial Evaluating Stem Cells as Potential Treatment for SLE Granted NIH Funding
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