Cord blood & cord tissue
Can Stem Cells be used for Rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, caused by the body attacking its own tissues. Incurable at present, stem cell therapies offer new hope to millions of sufferers.
In clinical terms, the synovial membrane is affected by arthritis, which leads to a fluid build-up in the joints, causing inflammation and pain. There is currently no cure for the condition, which affects nearly 350 million people around the world, causing suffering in men, women and children alike.
There are numerous studies being carried out into the efficacy of stem cell therapies in the treatment of arthritis, among them a clinical trial being carried out in Britain that seems to have made great advances in slowing the degeneration of the knee joints in some osteoarthritis sufferers.
While trials like this are being carried out, there is a bright future for the potential treatment of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
For example, studies in stem cell therapies in animals have found significant improvements in horses with joint deformities. Additionally, stem cells were found to have the ability to modulate the immune system, preventing any further damage.
Clinical trials are underway to see if a similar reaction can be found in humans. If it can, then we will see a significant improvement in the lives of arthritis sufferers.
It is important to note that there is currently no actual cure for arthritis, but if science can lessen the debilitating effects of the disease, and help sufferers to lead a more normal life, then that is future that is good for us all. Stem cell therapies seem to offer that hope.
And that’s why stem cell storage is vital. Those with stored stem cells will have an obvious advantage when it comes to future therapies for this dreadful condition.
Obviously, the ideal scenario is that your child will live a long and healthy life, but by choosing to bank your child’s umbilical and placental stem cells when they are born, you are giving them a chance to be able to fight any diseases that may jeopardise their health in future years.
As science and living standards improve, we are living longer than ever, and with this longevity comes a higher probability of contracting different illnesses and diseases.
Banking your child’s stem cells means that they could have a far higher chance of being able to make the most of any and all treatments that could become available to them, and that includes arthritis.
Should you have any further enquiries about the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, please do not hesitate to contact us