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Date of Award
Spring 2021
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Erin Wolf
Abstract
Introduction: Neurons in the body are responsible for generating and conducting the electrical impulses which control our body’s functions and information processing. Neuronal axons are surrounded by a myelin sheath, which is vital for proper conduction of the impulses throughout the body. In MS, a chronic demyelinating autoimmune disease, the myelin is destroyed and is unable to be repaired. Current treatments for MS only focus on symptom alleviation and can cause many undesirable side effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are becoming more widely used in various treatments today thanks to their many unique properties. Recently, researchers have been directing their attention toward the use of MSCs in remyelination therapy for chronic MS patients.
Methods: Several searches on PubMed and Ovid were conducted to find articles relevant to the topic. Human clinical trials from the last five years which were searched for, resulting in 40 articles. Each was evaluated and excluded via the following criteria 1. Studies including systematic reviews or meta-analysis. 2. Any articles featuring other inflammatory or autoimmune diseases besides MS. 3. Any studies involving treatment forms other than MSCs. 7 studies met this exclusion criteria and were utilized in the study.
Results: The studies selected all aimed to assess safety as their primary objective, and they all completed this successfully. Though some minor adverse events were experienced, the MSC treatment did not lead to any major life threatening events. The majority of the studies demonstrated significantly improved lesion volume on MRI, as well as significantly improved EDSS scores.
Discussion: While the studies failed to show significant outcomes and improvements in all the analyzed data, some significant results were seen and prove very promising. Many participants reported feeling better than they had prior to the study while being treated with MSCs. Some studies have suggested using MSCs in conjunction with the currently approved medication as an option for treatment. Until these questions can be fully addressed, it’s important to continue to study this topic and pursue the best possible treatment and care options for those suffering from MS.
Recommended Citation
Gallagher, Heather, "Safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in symptom management of multiple sclerosis as compared to the currently approved medications" (2021). Capstone Showcase. 33.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2021/pa/33
Safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in symptom management of multiple sclerosis as compared to the currently approved medications
Introduction: Neurons in the body are responsible for generating and conducting the electrical impulses which control our body’s functions and information processing. Neuronal axons are surrounded by a myelin sheath, which is vital for proper conduction of the impulses throughout the body. In MS, a chronic demyelinating autoimmune disease, the myelin is destroyed and is unable to be repaired. Current treatments for MS only focus on symptom alleviation and can cause many undesirable side effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are becoming more widely used in various treatments today thanks to their many unique properties. Recently, researchers have been directing their attention toward the use of MSCs in remyelination therapy for chronic MS patients.
Methods: Several searches on PubMed and Ovid were conducted to find articles relevant to the topic. Human clinical trials from the last five years which were searched for, resulting in 40 articles. Each was evaluated and excluded via the following criteria 1. Studies including systematic reviews or meta-analysis. 2. Any articles featuring other inflammatory or autoimmune diseases besides MS. 3. Any studies involving treatment forms other than MSCs. 7 studies met this exclusion criteria and were utilized in the study.
Results: The studies selected all aimed to assess safety as their primary objective, and they all completed this successfully. Though some minor adverse events were experienced, the MSC treatment did not lead to any major life threatening events. The majority of the studies demonstrated significantly improved lesion volume on MRI, as well as significantly improved EDSS scores.
Discussion: While the studies failed to show significant outcomes and improvements in all the analyzed data, some significant results were seen and prove very promising. Many participants reported feeling better than they had prior to the study while being treated with MSCs. Some studies have suggested using MSCs in conjunction with the currently approved medication as an option for treatment. Until these questions can be fully addressed, it’s important to continue to study this topic and pursue the best possible treatment and care options for those suffering from MS.