New Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis

A treatment which has been used for cancers has been shown to have remarkable results for multiple sclerosis sufferers. Rachel Kahn reports.

A recent documentary by BBC Panorama showed a new, cutting-edge and potentially life-changing treatment for those suffering with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a condition affecting nerves in the brain and spinal cord, which in turn affects balance, vision and movement of muscles, with many sufferers becoming unable to stand and requiring a wheelchair. Our central nervous system (CNS) contains the brain and the spinal cord, and each nerve within the CNS has a protective coating known as the myelin sheath. In multiple sclerosis this sheath is damaged, which affects nerve signalling and causes a variety of debilitating symptoms.

The condition is known as an ‘autoimmune’ condition as it involves our immune systems attacking ‘self’, in this case, it attacks nerves, which it should not normally do. The immune system usually remains silent until it is needed, for example during an infection. Unfortunately, MS sees the immune system incorrectly activated, damaging nerves in the brain and spinal cord which are usually protected by the myelin sheath.

A new treatment, currently being trialled in Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital alongside hospitals in Sweden, the US and Brazil, has seen nothing short of astounding results in patients with relapsing remitting MS which accounts for around 80% of patients with this condition. It is commonly associated with mild periods and flare ups of the condition, during which symptoms can be life limiting.

The treatment is known as an autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Patients first undergo a round of chemotherapy to destroy their current nerve-attacking immune system. It then involves a bone marrow transplant, which is known as an autologous transplant as it comes from the patient’s own bone marrow, which contains stem cells to reboot the immune system.

Stem cells are the earliest form of cells that have the potential to give rise any cell type. The very essence of mankind begins from a single stem cell known as a ‘totipotent’ cell which can give rise to every single cell type in the body. A bone marrow transplant involves transplanting multipotent stem cells back into the body. Multipotent stem cells have the potential to develop into various cell types, allowing for the cells within the immune system to effectively start afresh.

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'Just a few days after the transplant, Steven could move his toes, and recently he’s been able to swim, cycle and walk briefly unaided.'

Steven Storey was a patient featured on BBC’s documentary. His MS saw a remarkable decrease following this treatment. Within a year of diagnosis of MS, Steven had gone from having a hugely active lifestyle to being stuck in a wheelchair and requiring 24-hour care. Just a few days after the transplant, Steven could move his toes, and recently he’s been able to swim, cycle and walk briefly unaided. Currently there is no sign of active MS on his scans and doctors are hoping that this treatment may actually be a permanent fix for the condition.

While the overall treatment cost of £30,000 may sound a lot, on average, medication to ease the symptoms of MS cost £30,000 a year for each lifelong patient, so this new treatment being trialled has the potential to be hugely cost-effective.

The treatment is fairly brutal with patients seeing the same symptoms as someone going through chemotherapy for cancer, such as nausea and hair loss. However, looking at the current clinical outcomes, the positives can far outweigh the negatives, and this new treatment provides great hope for patients with MS.

Source: http://www.redbrick.me/tech/new-treatment-multiple-sclerosis/