HSCT

HSCT

 

 

      Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant is a procedure that has been used for cancer patients since the 1950s.  It was accidentally discovered that it works for people with an autoimmune disease when a cancer patient who also had an autoimmune disease was treated with HSCT and had positive results for the cancer as well as the autoimmune disease.  For patients with an autoimmune disease the process involves stimulating stem cell production in the patient, extracting the patient's stem cells (through a port installed in a neck vein), cleansing the stem cells of T cells that are causing the M.S., freezing the stem cells, putting the patient through chemotherapy to suppress the immune system, and then re-infusing the stem cells in the patient where they begin to reproduce and form a new immune system, free of T cells, therefore, M.S.

      HSCT is most effective for younger patients and those who have relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis.   For those patients, the progression of the disease will be halted and many or most of the symptoms will be reversed.  For patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, SPMS,

there is a very good chance the progression of the disease will be halted.  Some patients experience some reversal of symptoms.  I have SPMS and hope and pray for this progression to be halted.  I have experienced much loss of agility and mobility in the past four years, since my disease turned progressive.  It will be a true blessing if I do experience a reversal of some of the symptoms.

     HSCT is being done in the U.S. but since it is in clinical trials with strict criteria for enrollment, I was declined.   I'm too old and do not have Relapsing/Remitting M.S., which I did have until four years ago.  Up until age 60, when the course of my disease became SPMS, I would not have been interested in HSCT as I had perfect health with no symptoms of M.S.  In fact, people who took dance lessons from me and my husband, who took dance classes with us, or who taught school with me were unaware that I had M.S.  I didn't make a secret of it, but there were no tell-tale signs.

     There is no medication to treat SPMS.  My current neurologist has tried to persuade me to "try" one of the drugs for RRMS, but I don't choose to be a guinea pig.  There are no trials that have indicated those drugs are effective for SPMS. 

     In summary, there is no HOPE for patients with Primary Progressive or Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.  When I learned of Dr. Fedorenko in Russia treating patients with autoimmune diseases using HSCT, for the first time I saw a glimmer of hope, hope that I would not face a future lying in bed, unable to sit, feed myself, carry on a conversation, remember our children's formative years, or be a body to care for to my husband.  I don't believe I am brave to go to Russia for this procedure.   I feel I'm drowning and grabbing the only lifeline anyone has offered me.

     From all I've heard from all of Dr. Fedorenko's former patients and the impression I have of him from the letters we've exchanged, I have complete trust in him.  He truly has a heart for his patients and does all in his power to treat and heal them.  I feel I'm placing myself in good hands.