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Post by grammie on Jan 30, 2013 18:41:12 GMT -5
I was chatting on the phone with a gal from church who told me she had just read an article about cell transplant for SD. I asked her to please send me the article and she said she would, but I haven't gotten it yet. Anyone heard of that?
Just wondering.........If I get the article, I'll let you folks know what it is about.
grammie
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Post by jeffn on Jan 31, 2013 8:33:07 GMT -5
Yes I have done some reading about stem cell transplants. There was a study a couple of years ago where if selected you were randomized into one of two groups. One group received stem cell transplants and the other went on high dose cytoxan, a chemo drug. Do a search for SCOT Trial that was the name of the study. I would think that the study is still going on to follow people long term and of yet I have not seen any info about conclusions yet. Of course people not part of the study have received the transplant too. The stem cell transplant is not to be taken lightly as the procedure requires that your immune system is reduced to nothing prior to the transplant. Then after as the patient has no immune system so infection is a large risk. I have spoken with two people who have had transplants for diseases other than SD. One IIRC had one for leukemia and the other for RA. The former was doing well and the other was seeing RA symptoms return.
See what you can find out, the subject does make for interesting reading. I would be curious what the success rates are.
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Post by christel on Jan 31, 2013 10:20:57 GMT -5
I know of the article that is probably being mentioned. It was in the November 2012 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. It discusses use of stem cell transplants for some illnesses, and the main person in the story has scleroderma and had the procedure--with good results. I also know of someone in my area (with sd) who had the procedure done with good results. These procedures are being done at the University of MI, where there is a sd clinic, at which I am very fortunate to be a patient. As Jeff said, the transplant is a very intense and difficult process, and it is usually reserved for those who are very ill and perhaps have no other options in treatment.
Christel
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Post by grammie on Feb 4, 2013 14:38:02 GMT -5
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Post by nhnancy on Feb 13, 2013 17:54:49 GMT -5
I Have heard about this from the doc in BU that I first went to, he said that was the "cure" but most insurance won't pay for stem cell transplants. This is what they were trying with Steve...not to say it will kill you, just the long difficult procedure...they basically knock out your immune system, replant stem cells and do the transplant...
I think Robin Roberts just had stem cell trans plant with good results.
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Post by grammie on Feb 27, 2013 15:23:49 GMT -5
Yes, Robin did well but she also said it was one of the worse things she's done due to all the chemo. Her's wasn't due to SD but a results of the chemo she had for breast cancer.
grammie
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