Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and can also affect other organs in the body. Ankylosing Spondylitis can significantly affect a patient’s life in many ways, from physical limitations to emotional distress. Physically, AS can cause pain and stiffness in the spine, as well as fatigue and even disability over time – which has people searching for ways to alleviate symptoms. It can also cause peripheral joint damage and further complications such as uveitis, an inflammation of the eyes.
AS can also affect a patient’s emotional well-being. Chronic pain and disability can lead to depression, anxiety, and social isolation. The unpredictable nature of the disease can add to feelings of uncertainty or fear that patients must confront when living with AS. Scientists still don’t know exactly what causes it, but they have found some differences in the immune system of people with the disease. This has led to the development of different treatments, including drugs and stem cell therapy.
To treat this autoimmune disorder various strategies have been developed focusing on different pathways involved in its development such as Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitorsโcelecoxib, rofecoxib and pamidronateโor anti-TNF-ฮฑ therapy or even Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe cases.
Stem cells are special cells that can help regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. Researchers have found that when they give patients with ankylosing spondylitis stem cells from umbilical cords, it can help improve their symptoms. This is because the stem cells can stop some of the immune cells that are causing inflammation in the body.
It’s an exciting area of research that could offer hope to people living with ankylosing spondylitis. A study, Infusion of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviates symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, looked into the potential of stem cell therapy for treating AS patients.
Results of the Study – Alleviate Symptoms
In this study, researchers evaluated the use of umbilical cord stem cells (uMSC) to treat ankylosing spondylitis in 5 patients. There were four male patients and one female patient. These patients were between the ages of 17 and 44 and had been experiencing symptoms of AS, such as pain and stiffness in the spine and other joints.
The stem cells were given to the patients through an intravenous infusion, and each patient received between one and three infusions. Each patient was administered with umbilical mesenchymal stem cells at a dose of 1.2โ3.5ร106/kg. The researchers monitored the patients for adverse reactions, but no reactions were severe.
Before the stem cell treatment, the patients were evaluated using different tests to determine the severity of their AS. These included blood tests to check inflammation markers like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as physical tests to assess mobility and function using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI).
Before receiving uMSCs, each patient had received 4 weeks of thalidomide, sulfasalazine and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at various dosages with no major adverse effects noted during treatment or throughout follow up periods.
The first patient, a 34-year-old man, had been experiencing lower back pain for 20 years. After receiving an infusion of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (uMSCs) and a combination of medications, he experienced significant relief in his symptoms and was able to stop all medications after one year. The second patient, a 20-year-old man, had a 2-year history of knee and lower back pain. After uMSC infusion and continued medication use, he felt relief in his knee and lower back pain and was able to participate in physical activity.
The third patient, a 41-year-old woman, had a 20-year history of joint pain in her lower back and left knee. After uMSC infusion and medication use, her pain was relieved and she experienced occasional lower back pain after six months. The fourth patient, a 44-year-old man, had a history of lumbosacral joint and sternum pain for about 5 years. Following uMSC infusion and medication use, he experienced relief in his symptoms and after three months, his BASDAI score decreased significantly.
The fifth patient, a 17-year-old man, had lower back pain and knee and hip joint pain. After three infusions of uMSCs and continued medication use, he experienced relief in his pain and was able to participate in physical activity. While some patients experienced a fever after uMSC infusion, there were no other adverse reactions associated with the treatment, indicating that uMSC infusion is safe for patients with AS.
All patients experienced a marked improvement in their spinal functions and symptoms, as indicated by the decrease in their BASDAI and BASFI scores. Additionally, their BASMI scores increased, indicating an improvement in spinal movement.
Although the present study has limitations, the results suggest that MSC transplantation could be a promising alternative treatment option for patients with AS. Future studies should aim to address the limitations of the present study and provide more robust evidence for the safety and efficacy of MSC transplantation in AS.
The most effective stem cell therapy starts with the best possible cells. BioXcellerator Signature Cells are produced from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from Whartonโs jelly umbilical cord tissue.
