Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a progressive inflammatory disease primarily affecting the spine and causing pain and stiffness, eventually leading to the fusion of vertebral bones. This fusion restricts motion, making everyday chores harder to manage. While conventional medicines (NSAIDs, biologics, physical therapy) play a role in treating symptoms, they don’t precisely address the underlying cause of the disease. This is where Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis in India comes into play as a potential solution for individuals with AS, particularly in India, where the healthcare landscape is quickly transforming.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy is a treatment in which stem cells are used to repair or regenerate diseased or damaged tissues. Stem cells are unique cells that can develop into other types of cells within the body, such as bone, cartilage, and muscle cells. By harnessing this ability to heal, stem cell therapy can help regenerate parts of the body affected by diseases like AS.
A Primer on Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy has two main types: autologous and allogenic. Autologous stem cell therapy involves stem cells taken from the same patient, while allogenic stem cell therapy involves stem cells from a donor. Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis in India especially offers AS another option when the patient’s own cells are not available, or when there is a need for more specialized therapy.
Why Use Stem Cell Therapy for AS?
People with Ankylosing Spondylitis often end up in conditions where they experience chronic pain, morning stiffness, and damage to joints, especially the spine and sacroiliac joints. The inflammation can become so severe that it causes fusion of the bones, restricting movement and resulting in permanent damage. Although conventional therapies offer some relief from symptoms, they do not target the underlying disease process.
This means that stem cell therapy has the potential to not just manage the symptoms but also target the underlying cause of the disease by:
- Decreasing inflammation in the regions affected.
- Tissue regeneration, which includes cartilage and bone.
- Reducing or stopping joint fusion, which is a feature of late-stage AS.
In this context, Ankylosing Spondylitis Stem Cell Therapy has the potential to help AS patients, since it addresses the underlying problems that affect them, resulting in less pain, better flexibility, and eventually slower disease progression.
Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy for AS: What Happens?
So, how does stem cell therapy work for Ankylosing Spondylitis?
- Immune Modulation: AS is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues. Therapeutic stem cells have immune-modulating properties, which act to soothe the overactive immune system, alleviating inflammation and preventing more tissue degeneration.
- Cartilage and Bone Regeneration: The stem cells can convert into cartilage or bone cells, thereby repairing the damage caused by AS. Joint regeneration is necessary to lessen pain and stiffness associated with chronic arthritis, as it can help restore function to affected joints.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties: Owing to the secretion of anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, stem cells can regulate chronic inflammation, the source of pain and discomfort in AS patients.
- Tissue Repair: Stem cells can regenerate tissues by differentiating into the cells required for recovery, including cartilage-producing cells (chondrocytes) and bone-producing cells (osteoblasts). This may also slow down or halt joint fusion, which is prevalent in the later stages of AS.
Recent studies have explored the potential of stem cell therapy in treating Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Treatment using intravenous umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (uMSCs) in five AS patients showed a decrease in disease activity and clinical symptoms without serious adverse reactions. Stem Cell Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis may also provide an alternative treatment strategy to reduce inflammation and improve mobility. This study concluded that stem cell therapy could be a promising treatment option.
In another study, 31 patients with active AS were administered bone marrow-derived MSCs. By the fourth infusion, Many of participants reported improvement, with effects lasting up to seven weeks after treatment. This suggests that stem cell therapy could offer significant relief from AS and help manage symptoms effectively.
Types of Stem Cells Used in Allogenic Therapy
There is also an Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis in India, which is carried out using stem cells from a donor. The most frequently used stem cells in AS treatments are Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), which can be obtained from various tissues:
- Bone Marrow: Bone marrow stem cells can differentiate into bone, cartilage, and muscle cells, which are essential for repairing AS-induced damage.
- Fat-Derived Stem Cells: Another option would be fat-derived stem cells, which come from adipose tissue. These are relatively easy to harvest and can transform into bone, cartilage, and other vital tissues.
- Peripheral Blood: Growth factors can be administered to mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow into the circulation, where they can be collected and used for therapy.
What Is the Process Like?
The following steps are involved when it comes to Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis:
- Collection of Stem Cells: The donor is induced to release and harvest their stem cells. This is accomplished using techniques such as bone marrow aspiration or extracting stem cells from adipose tissue (fat tissue).
- Stem Cell Processing: The stem cells are processed to allow for the separation and concentration of the stem cells. In some cases, the cells are cultured or activated to enhance their regenerative potential.
- Injection into the Patient: The processed stem cells are subsequently injected into the patient. This can be via an intravenous infusion, where the stem cells travel around the body to the area of inflammation, or by direct injection into joints or the spine.
- Post Follow-up and Monitoring: Patients undergoing the treatment are monitored strictly to track progress. This includes follow-up imaging such as MRIs or X-rays, as well as periodic check-ups to evaluate pain levels, stiffness, and joint function.
Advantages of Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy offers several potential advantages for individuals with Ankylosing Spondylitis:
- Further Inflammation Reduction: Stem cells help soothe chronic inflammation, subsequently decreasing pain and stiffness in affected joints.
- Cartilage and Bone Restoration: Stem cells can repair damaged or worn cartilage and bone, helping to restore normal joint function and prevent destruction of surrounding tissues.
- Disease Progression Slowed: Stem cell therapy can mitigate the escalation of the disease by slowing the fusion of the joints, which helps boost mobility and quality of life.
- Minimally Invasive: Compared to regular surgeries, stem cell therapy is less invasive, resulting in faster recovery and a lower risk of complications.
- No Immune Rejection Risk: Due to the fact that stem cells are derived from a donor, there is no risk of immune rejection.
Risks and Challenges
Although it has potential, Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis in India does carry some challenges and risks:
- Can Affect Other Areas: The migration of stem cells can have an effect on other areas of the body, leading to the risk of treatment being applied at a different location than the intended one.
- Cost: The cost associated with stem cell therapy can be high, particularly in India, ranging from INR 3,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 (USD 3,500 to USD 12,000) depending on the respective clinic and the complexity of the procedure.
- Possible Adverse Effects: Rarely, complications may arise, such as infection, bleeding, or pain at the injection site.
- Not a Cure: Stem cell therapy doesn’t cure AS — it helps with symptoms and can slow down disease progression.
- Response Varies by Patient: The results will not be the same for everyone. Some patients may experience significant improvement, while others may not see noticeable changes.
Global Prevalence of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
Ankylosing Spondylitis is present in nearly 0.1% to 0.5% of the adult population. This statistic illustrates that although AS is rarer, it still impacts a large number of individuals.
Stem cell therapy is still experimental in India. As a result, it is difficult to track an overall success rate, and results can differ depending on the disease being treated, the individual stem cell institute, and the patient’s health condition.
Stem and Allogenic Cell Therapy in India:
Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis in India is available in numerous leading clinics and hospitals in India. The best centers include:
- Medtravellers (Gurgaon, Haryana): Focused on autologous stem cell treatments and cutting-edge treatments for autoimmune diseases.
- Stem Cell Therapy India (Delhi & Gurgaon): Offers stem cell treatments for autoimmune diseases, including AS.
- Max Healthcare (Delhi, Gurgaon): Max Healthcare is another popular and reputed healthcare provider that also provides stem cell treatments for joint and spinal disorders.
- Narayana Health (Bangalore): Provides stem cell therapy for AS and conducts clinical studies for treatment safety.
- Kiran Stem Cell Center (Ahmedabad, Gujarat): Kiran specializes in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy tailored for specific conditions, unlike conventional treatments.
Conclusion
Are you based in India and want to know about Allogenic Stem Cell Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis in India? It presents a possible means to control symptoms, restore damaged tissue, and delay the progression of the disease. While further studies will be necessary, these preliminary results suggest that this treatment option is likely to deliver substantial benefits to patients with AS. Always speak to a qualified specialist to ensure this treatment is appropriate for you.
