Stem Cell Treatment for Lupus

The issue with traditional lupus treatments
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks your own tissues and organs. The most common symptoms include rashes and joint pain, which are relatively treatable. More severe cases, however, can lead to organ failure. The kidneys are often the first organs to fail in uncontrolled lupus, but organs in the cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, renal, and musculoskeletal systems can also be damaged.

To date, no cure exists for lupus. The disease is managed like most other autoimmune diseases – through a regimen of anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics. These strong drugs often carry harmful side effects that can reduce a patient’s quality of life; furthermore, they are sometimes ineffective at alleviating the patient’s symptoms.

 

How stem cells help with lupus
Stem cell therapy is one of the most promising new paradigms in the treatment of lupus, especially for people who do not respond favorably to other treatments. An infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can help with Lupus in two ways. First, MSCs can reverse some of the damage by regenerating cells and tissues; second, MSCs can modulate the immune system to prevent your body from attacking itself, thus addressing the root cause of the problem.

Studies on the efficacy of stem cell treatment for lupus and other autoimmune diseases have been largely positive. In a trial involving 200 participants, 75% were observed to have benefited from stem cell treatment. This is higher than the success rate of the current standard lupus medications; additionally, the effects remained for over 24 months after treatment, and adverse reactions were rare, with no severe reactions being reported.

When provided to Lupus patients, stem cell treatment has the potential to 1) lessen the debilitating long-term effects of lupus; 2) reduce the need for medications like steroids, which have harmful side effects; and 3) stop damage to vital organs.

 

*Typical Treatment Protocol
A typical protocol consists of intravenous transplant of 100+ million cord tissue-derived MSCs (Mesenchymal Stem Cells). The procedure takes approximately 45 minutes. The protocol is minimally invasive to the patient and has very little downtime. Patients normally travel home two days following their scheduled appointment.

 

Treatment goals
Our protocol aims to reduce the overall levels of chronic low-grade inflammation in the body. The effects are expected to last for a very long time.

Stem cells are uniquely and intrinsically able to migrate to sites of damage and inflammation in the body. Studies have shown that stem cells are able to orchestrate the repair and regeneration of deteriorated tissues, as well as modulate the immune system, to promote better health.

The benefits of stem cell therapy can include a reduction in harmful symptoms, the slowing of the progression of the disease, and an overall increase in quality of life.

 

*Treatment protocols are individualized for each patient according to a variety of factors, including overall patient health, condition, and severity. A protocol optimized for your particular situation will be developed in consultation with a stem cell physician and a review of your medical records.

Conditions We Treat