Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a damaging condition that affects the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerves. Patients usually experience MS in episodes that can last a few months to many years. When these episodes occur, the nerves continually degenerate, which can cause severe motor, sensory, balance, and cognitive problems. These problems cause quality of life problems for patients.
Current treatments can reduce the frequency of episodes and slow disease progression. However, these treatments do not have the ability to regenerate damaged nerves or myelin sheaths to reverse the damage that has been caused. The medical community has been searching for alternative therapies for some time.
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) are a promising alternative to conventional MS treatments. The safety of stem cell therapy has been demonstrated in multiple trials for multiple sclerosis patients. The next step before this treatment can become an accepted treatment is to show the efficacy of UCMSCs on MS patients.
A study, Clinical feasibility of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, conducted a clinical study that looked into the effects of umbilical cord stem cells derived from Wharton’s Jelly. The researchers sought to determine the efficacy and safety of UCMSC treatment for MS patients.
Promising Results from the Study
The study evaluated the effects of stem cells on MS patients. Researchers performed the study on 20 patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between 2.0 and 7.0. Fifteen patients had a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS, four patients had primary progressive MS, and one patient had secondary progressive MS. The length of the study was one year.
Patients received seven doses of 20,000,000 UCMSCs intravenously over the course of seven visits. Each visit was separated by between one to four days. The researchers assessed the patients for any adverse events since the last visit and received a physical examination at each visit.
The researchers followed up with patients one month, three months, and one year after completing their final round of treatment. Patients also received MRI scans of the brain and spinal cord before the study and one year after the therapy concluded.
The study determined that UCMSCs are safe for patients with multiple sclerosis. There were no serious adverse events reported during the course of the study. There were some mild adverse events, such as headaches and fatigue. No adverse events were reported at the one-year follow-up visit.
Patients saw the most improvements one month after receiving the treatment, and some patients were able to sustain the improvements one year after treatment. The mean of patient EDSS scores was 5.23 at the beginning of the study. One month after treatment, the mean score decreased to 4.75. At the one-year mark, EDSS mean scores further lowered to 4.62.
One common issue for MS patients is bladder control and sexual dysfunction. Patients saw improvements in bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Medication intake is another concern for MS patients. 20% of the patients reduced their intake of MS medication during patient follow-up.
Patient walk times improved in both the one-month and one-year follow-ups. Two patients reduced their reliance on assistive devices; one patient went from a wheelchair to a walker, and another went from a walker to a cane. At the one-year mark, the cane patient no longer required the use of their cane.
Of the patients who completed the MRI scans, 15 showed no disease progression or new lesions. Two patients showed progression in their lesions. One patient remarkably showed a complete resolution of the plaques in their brain.
Overall, patients experienced a positive result from the treatment and had an improved quality of life. At the one-month mark, 15 patients showed increased quality of life scores over their baseline scores. At the one-year mark, quality of life scores improved for 11 patients, while six patients had decreased scores. Patients saw improvements in walking, upper extremity physical function, energy, and fatigue.
The researchers noted that the small sample size of the study may impact some of the statistical significance of their results. The study stressed that more research is needed to confirm the results of the study.
Stem cells may be able to improve the quality of life of patients who have multiple sclerosis. It will likely still be some time before stem cell therapy is an accepted treatment for MS, but this study will help build the foundation for better MS treatments.
