title: Autologous Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cells for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: Stem cell therapy, an evolving, progressive field of therapeutics has shown several successes in areas where classic treatments failed to prevent or stop disability. Starting in 2009, twenty two sequential patients with progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS) courses were treated with Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear stem cells (BM-MNSCs). The cells were given both intravenously and intrathecally. Using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score for evaluation, our data indicates that the majority of the patients benefited on the average one point on the scale. This paper adds to the body of evidence suggesting the safety and efficacy of autologous BM-MNSCs in the treatment of MS and awaits validation through larger, randomized studies.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, The Lebanese-Canadian Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Nassim
authors: N
authors: Abi Chahine
authors: Department of Hematology, The Lebanese-Canadian and Notre Dame University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Tarek
authors: T
authors: Wehbe
authors: Department of Biology, University of Balamand, Balamand, Lebanon.
authors: Johny
authors: J
authors: Rashed
authors: Department of Neurology, The Lebanese-Canadian Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Ramzi
authors: R
authors: Hilal
authors: Neuro- rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Nada
authors: N
authors: Elias
keywords: Autologous bone marrow; Mononuclear cells; Multiple Sclerosis; Stem cells; The expanded disability status scale