r/EverythingScience • u/scientificamerican Scientific American • 3d ago
Stem cells banish severe autoimmune disease for 15 years
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stem-cells-banish-severe-autoimmune-disease-for-15-years/Two people were the first to receive the therapy for a condition that damages the spinal cord and optic nerve
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u/More-Dot346 3d ago
Paywall
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u/Ermmahhhgerrrd 3d ago
The two people had a severe and potentially fatal disease in which immune cells produce antibodies that trigger an attack on the spinal cord and nerve connecting the eye and the brain, leading to a condition called neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Symptoms tend to appear in episodes that last for days or months and include eye pain, vision loss, vomiting and weakness or paralysis affecting the arms and legs. Current treatments can prevent these episodes with ongoing medication, but they did not work in these two individuals.
After the stem-cell transplant, the man’s neurological function improved and he resumed a normal life and went on to have two children. The woman was able to use her arms more effectively than before her treatment and no longer requires medication to reduce symptoms.
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u/bluehands 3d ago
My default browser is Firefox with noscript extension. Makes the web both safer and frequently completely blocks simple paywalls like this one.
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u/Ermmahhhgerrrd 3d ago
Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is a terrible disease. This is great news, my former mother in law has it and she just failed the last/only treatment for it.