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The Promising Potential of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)

While In the past 20 years, the transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCT) has been utilized as a therapeutic option for patients who have experienced limited success with conventional treatments for severe autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Autologous HSCT is the most commonly used technique, and an expanding body of evidence supports its utility in treating a broad range of autoimmune conditions, such as relapsing remitting MS, systemic sclerosis, CIDP, Stiff Person Syndrome, Systemic Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis, and Crohn’s disease.

HSCT is a medical procedure that entails the removal of stem cells from a patient’s bone marrow. Following the extraction, the immune system is destroyed by administering high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The extracted stem cells are then reintroduced into the patient’s bloodstream, where they travel to the bone marrow and begin to generate new, healthy blood cells.

While HSCT has long been employed to treat specific cancers, such as leukaemia and lymphoma, recent studies have explored its effectiveness in treating autoimmune diseases, including MS. In fact, MS has been shown to respond extremely well to HSCT, with patients experiencing substantial symptom improvement and long-term remission.

Can HSCT help to treat other autoimmune conditions besides MS?

Is HSCT also effective in treating other autoimmune disorders aside from MS? The answer is yes. Over 80 autoimmune conditions exist, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and type 1 diabetes. Although each disorder differs in terms of its causes, symptoms, and treatment options, they share a common feature: an overactive immune system that attacks the body’s own tissues.

HSCT has also demonstrated promise in treating autoimmune disorders that affect the central nervous system, such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Patients with NMO who underwent HSCT experienced a 77% reduction in relapse rates and a 90% reduction in disability scores in a single study, with no significant negative effects.

At our world class HSCT hospital in India so far following Auto immune conditions have been treated success fully and continued research and innovation is underway which has benefited hundreds of international patients who came to HSCT Hospital India for HSCT therapy.

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – All forms (RR, SP, PP, PR)
• Chronic Inflammatory Demylinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
• Transverse Myelitis (TM)
• Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
• Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN)
• Other autoimmune disease types
• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
• Stiff Person Syndrome
• Scleroderma (all forms including systemic sclerosis)
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Considering that there are millions of patients worldwide who suffer from autoimmune diseases, HSCT treatment must become more accessible. Currently, the total cost of HSCT at major centres such as Mexico andRussia is over 100,000 US Dollars, including travel and accommodation. At the world-class HSCT Hospital India, it costs about 30,000 US Dollars, which includes total cost of treatment, stay, medicines and nursing, clinical costs during 30 days stay at a premium private room at the hospital.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is now a proven treatment option for stopping the MS disease progression. HSCT attempts to reset the immune system to slow or stop MS from progressing, at least temporarily. But it’s only available in clinical trials and not everyone with MS is eligible for it.

Since 1993, the FDA has approved 12 disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to treat relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). All are designed to suppress the immune system to one degree or another. These drugs cost about $5,000 per month and they must be taken indefinitely, since relapses will occur if the drugs are stopped. While patients now have many options to stave off disease progression, no DMT has been proven to reverse disability.

The goal of HSCT is to potentially “reboot” or reset the body’s immune system. Dr. Richard K. Burt performed the first hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for a multiple sclerosis (MS) patient in the United States at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Now Burt, Chief of the Division of Medicine-Immunotherapy and Autoimmune Diseases at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, is making headlines again. Dr. Burt published the results of their newest HSCT study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Their results show that HSCT could be the first MS therapy to reverse disability.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2091305

Cost of HSCT Treatment Major Medical Centres doing for MS and other Auto Immune Condition

HSCT Treatment for MS and other Autoimmune conditions like CIDP, Stiff Neck Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis etc. is now being offered at a number of private medical centres around the world as below :-

USA – 125,000 US Dollars $

Mexico – 85,000 US Dollars plus additional cost during recovery for stay near the hospital.

Russia – 55,000 US Dollars plus additional cost during recovery for stay near the hospital.

India – 30,000 US Dollars – complete stay for 30 days at JCI USA Accredited hospital.
Click here for more details

While HSCT is regarded as a treatment option with the potential to suspend disease activity and progression, given how expensive Tysabri is, and Fingolimod, [since HSCT is a one-time treatment] it should start paying for itself around 12 to 18 months depending on which centre the patient chooses to get treated at.

The treatment also needs to be more accessible to patients. At world class HSCT Hospital in India HSCT costs about 30,000 US Dollars all inclusive. Please click this link to know more about world’s most affordable HSCT treatment https://hsctindia.com/hsct-treatment-package

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a perplexing and progressive neurological condition, wreaks havoc on the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Its symptoms can range from manageable to devastating, and to date, no cure exists. But, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of a new treatment option, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).

Although HSCT is making waves for its potential to stop the progression of MS, it’s crucial to comprehend the pros, cons, and outcomes before making a decision. So, let’s delve into the mysteries of HSCT for MS and find out if it truly works or not.

The Science Behind HSCT

Thirty-five years ago, Dr. Richard Burt began a journey to treat chronic autoimmune diseases as they’d never been treated before. Using a treatment originally developed for leukemia but modified to be more gentle—a one-time combination of immune targetingdrugs followed by a transplant of the patient’s blood stem cells—he has documented the successful and often dramatic reversal of multiple sclerosis, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIPD), neuromyelitis optica, and Crohn’s disease HSCT is a radical treatment that involves destroying the immune system through high- dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy and then infusing new immune-forming stem cells.

This treatment is only indicated for specific conditions, including the most severe types of MS. The objective of HSCT is to halt the progression of MS by controlling the disease- causing inflammatory response of the immune system. Ideally, the new immune system created by the infused stem cells would have no memory of MS-caused autoimmune response and would therefore remain tolerant of the body, avoiding another immune attack.

Potential Rewards of HSCT

HSCT has the potential to bring numerous benefits to MS patients. It has the ability to stop MS progression, reduce or eliminate symptoms, and prevent the immune system from attacking the central nervous system, optic nerves, or brain. If an HSCT treatment is successful, it could be a lifelong treatment, targeting the root cause of MS – the immune system. Although HSCT wouldn’t cure the immune system, it would suppress it enough to prevent it from attacking the central nervous system, optic nerves, and/or brain.

Patient Experiences with HSCT

It’s difficult to determine the long-term effectiveness of HSCT for MS since the treatment is relatively new and has only shown promise in clinical trials. But, there have been a a good number of HSCT cases in the news, and patient forums like https://www.facebook.com/hsctindia that have provided patients with an opportunity to share their experiences. Some patients with aggressive forms of MS who underwent HSCT reported immediate results after the procedure, including the cessation of progression of the disease, regained mobility, and reduced or eliminated dependence on other treatments. Other patients with moderate forms of MS who underwent HSCT reported that the procedure brought the disease into remission, reducing or eliminating dependence on other treatments and regaining mobility and function.

The Cost of HSCT: A Burst of Reality

One of the crucial aspects to understand about HSCT is its cost and the fact that it’s not covered by insurance. HSCT is an extremely expensive treatment that can cost tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. The exact cost of HSCT will vary based on the individual, insurance coverage, and chosen doctor. HSCT is only performed at specialized centres with 30 days stay in isolated hospital rooms equipped with HEPA Filter with Triple Level Air Filtration to avoid any risk of infection, 24 x 7 nursing care and best medical attention. Popular centres in Mexico and Russia cost more than 100,000 US Dollars for HSCT, while in India the cost is much reasonable at about 30,000 US Dollars with comparable facilities. For more details https://hsctindia.com/hsct-treatment-package/

Making an Informed Decision about HSCT

Before making a decision about HSCT for MS, you must consider the following:

1. 1. The current state of your MS
   2. Available treatment options and potential outcomes
   3. The science behind HSCT treatment
   4. Potential risks of undergoing HSCT
   5. The cost of the treatment
   6. Availability of a support system

Once you have all the facts, you’ll be equipped to make an informed decision about your
health and future.

The outcomes of HSCT as of now has helped thousands of patients with autoimmune
diseases has no doubt proven it to be a revolutionary approach that could convert their
life sentence into a one-time reversible illness.