Stem cell therapy shows improvement in infant suffering from cerebral palsy

Mumbai: In a new medical achievement, Mesenchymal Stem
cells (MSCs) treatment has shown improvements in a one and a half year old baby
who was suffering from cerebral palsy.

Born with less weight and several
health complications, Inaya started getting epilepsy attacks when she was six
months old.As the condition deteriorated she was
unable to lift or move her legs and elbows.

According to her parents Inaya was put
on medication after consulting pediatricians and neurologists. However, none of
the treatments yielded results.

The parents were informed about the
stem cell therapy, a treatment procedure which had proved a milestone in
several types of health conditions, which did not show improvement through
medicines.Accordingly Inaya underwent MSCs
treatment at the city based StemRx Hospital.

According to doctors, the usage of
MSCs led to massive improvement in the patient, including her eye movements and
proper response to voice commands. She also began moving her legs mildly.

“It was a very challenging decision
as baby’s age is very less. Investigation was done to understand her condition
for stem cell treatment. It was only after the treatment that the baby cried
properly. Until now whenever she cried there was no sound,” said Pardeep
Mahajan, Medical Director at StemRx Hospital.

Explaining the treatment procedure
Mahajan said, “MSCs can migrate to the brain and improve functioning
following injury. The mechanism underlying the functioning of stem cell
transplantation in nerve repair may involve cell replacement function and
neurotrophic effect.”

“Furthermore, MSCs induce
angiogenesis (blood supply) due to the release of growth factors, thus
improving blood circulation in the injured regions or creating a
microenvironment that is favourable for the regeneration,”added Mahajan.

He also said the treatment has strong
self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation potentials. These progenitor
cells have the ability to differentiate into cells of different lineages such
as tissues of the skeletal and muscle systems.

According to Mahajan, further
improvement in the patient’s condition is expected after the remaining sessions
of the therapy.

“The biggest advantage in this
case is that Inaya is still in her growth phase and thus, her response to
treatment is faster and more effective than that observed in older
individuals,” said Mahajan.

--IANS