Stem cell therapy can safely slow MS progression – study

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, or aHSCT for short, is usually used to treat blood cancers, and involves harvesting stem cells from the person’s own bone marrow or blood followed by chemotherapy and antibody treatment.

Emerging evidence indicates that it is suitable for treating relapsing-remitting MS— characterised by distinct inflammatory episodes that cause varying degrees of residual disability. But aHSCT has yet to be included in most national clinical guidelines.

The researchers therefore wanted to assess its safety and effectiveness when used in routine healthcare rather than under clinical trial conditions.