Stem Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients are also benefiting from stem cell technology as research continues into their potential to replace cells damaged by the body’s own immune system in this disease.  Treatment at the Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands’ involves chemotherapy, to suppress the patients’ immune systems and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.  Patients undergoing the bone marrow transplants have shown improvements with results similar to those of an Australian study and a, longer, Austrian study.  The Austrian study follower three patients with RA, two of whom had 11- and 14-yr remissions and one who had a relapse after 2yrs followed by 11yrs of remission.  Patients found that the repair and restoration of joint function meant that they could reduce, and in some cases remove, the necessity for painkilling drugs and other medications with harmful side-effects.


The use of stem cells as part of routine procedures to heal fractured bones, damaged cartilage, and even visual impairment is likely to become more commonplace as scientists advance their understanding of the use of autologous adult stem cells.  By moving the debate away from the origin of the stem cells, i.e. avoiding the embryo question, the science and its potential once again gains center stage.