Here are featured articles for you to view. You can click the date and title to read the full press release.
Stem Cell Research Responsible For Cure of Thalasemmia
A young child has been cured of his Thalasemmia after having a stem cell transplant taken from donated umbilical cord blood (adult stem cells). Just two months ago, Harshil Nanda had B positive blood and a severe case of Thalasemmia. Now, 2 months later, after the cord blood stem cells were implanted, Harshil has A + positive blood and no signs of Thalasemmia.
Stem Cell Transplant Changed His Blood Type
In other words, the cord blood stem cells "took over" his blood and changed his blood type completely. The good folks at the Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI) are responsible for this success. According to them, this was the second stem cell transplant they did using cord blood stem cells from unrelated donors to cure Thalasemmia.
From the
stem cell article:
“This means that unrelated umbilical stem cell transplant can be termed as an established treatment. As they say, first success could be luck but second is science,” said director of bone marrow transplant department at GCRI Dr Sandip A Shah. The transplant was assisted by Dr Kinnari Patel and Dr Kamlesh Shah.
The first success story was of Rishi, a thalassemic major child from Kutch, who was cured by umbilical cord stem cells transplanted from an unrelated donor as he did not have siblings. Harshil is also the only child of his parents.
“While it took three months in Rishi for the donor blood cells to completely take over and change his blood group, Harshil has recovered within two months,” said Dr Shah.
Cord Blood Stem Cells Give Patients A New Option
This is more good news about stem cell research for Thalasemmia. Before, a bone marrow transplant from a matching donor was the only cure for this terrible disease. However, finding a matching donor is very difficult. Now, with donated umbilical cord blood stem cells available, this will increase the chances of Thalasemmia patients getting a stem cell transplant that would most likely save their life.
More Stem Cell Pioneers
We previously featured this young girl, a stem cell pioneer who was
cured of her Thalasemmia after receiving cord blood stem cells taken from her newborn brother's umbilical cord.
Stem Cell Treatment Information
If you are interested in stem cell treatment information for Thalasemmia or perhaps another disease or condition, please write me an email at don@repairstemcells.org and put TREATMENT in the subject line.