HSCT in the News

Yesterday in the mail we had another news story on HSCT, 

This is Haematopoetic Stem Cell Therapy, which I'm sure you have all heard of as some of our commenters ensure the topic of conversation steers that way every day ......Yawn.

You don't need a neuro to do it and if you have the cash...off you go.

Whilst this modus operandi is consistent with most fad treatments that you feel compelled to try, and use to suggest there is some pharma conspiracy about why it is not investigated.

However, the difference here is that there is solid data that it works.
As we all know neuros in grey-suits are a conservative bunch and if they get the willies with the thought of using something like alemtuzumab, is it surprising that they positively tremble with the fear of using HSCT and its consequences (which used to be mortality). However, it is your risk but it is usually reserved for the treatment of last resort.

Based on the data presented is it probably the most effective DMT, it should be as in one form HSCT (ablative) removes and replaces your immune system. Yet it is not widely used. Why not...

The conspiracy theorists suggest we are a biased bunch supporting pharma to the detriment of HSCT..

In the article by the Mail (as Newspaper) will fuel that clamour. It says "About 60 patients have now been treated as part of the ongoing study at London’s King’s College Hospital and Imperial College Healthcare and doctors say that the effect has been dramatic for some".

Reading the other direction it therefore says "there are no dramatic effects for many" .....So go into this with your eyes wide open as it may not be the cure you are hoping for.

If you are going to do this ensure you sign up to the MS register?Narcoms etc

Sign up here (CLICK), as it is vital that the magical effect, or not, is recorded somewhere. Imagine in the hundred/thousands of people who have taken a trip to Mexico/Russia has been followed there would be massive anecdote and information to help inform choice would be available.

At a cost of £35,000 per patient, the price is comparable to a single year of MS drugs....well not really for some as £35K is 6 years worth. However if the NHS took up the slack when haematology clinics have spaces, it would certainly be cost-effective in the long term, as alemtuzumab costs about £60,000 + the rest for monitoring.

The procedure is described and importantly the Doc leading the study says "For those with significant disability, we don’t expect a dramatic transformation" I say again 

"For those with significant disability, we don’t expect a dramatic transformation"....Do this with your eyes wide-open.

‘If they "are in wheelchair, they are likely to stay in one. But they may not get worse. And there have been very good results with patients with earlier-stage MS"

Then they say the study was published a year ago, we reported on it a year ago, and not much has happened since then....Yawn

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4891036/Therapy-offer-new-hope-MS-patients.html#ixzz4tAqDlBC0 

ProfG has been writing that there is a UK application in progress.                                                                                           

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