« Ebay buys Skype | Main | Senate Passes Cord Blood Donation Bill »

Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells Treat Spinal Cord Injury

Korean scientists have used umbilical cord blood stem cells to restore feeling and mobility to a spinal cord injury patient[Cytotherapy, (2005) Vol 7. No. 4, 368-373].

According to Wesley Smith, the female patient lost use of her legs following an accident 19 years ago (Complete paraplegia of the 10th thoracic vertebra.) She had surgery and also an infusion of umbilical cord blood stem cells.

(...) Note the stunning benefits: "The patient could move her hips and feel her hip skin on day 15 after transplantation. On day 25 after transplantation her feet responded to stimulation. On post operative day (POD) 7, motor activity was noticed and improved gradually in her lumbar paravertebral and hip muscles. She could maintain an upright position by herself on POD 13. From POD 15 she began to elevate both lower legs about 1 cm, and hip flexor muscle activity gradually improved until POD 41." It goes on from there in very technical language.

(...) Not only did the patient regain feeling, but "41 days after [stem cell] transplantation" testing "also showed regeneration of the spinal cord at the injured cite" and below it. "Therefore, it is suggested that UCB multipotent stem cell transplantation could be a good treatment method for SPI patients."

Wesleyjsmith has the rest.

Posted by tim at September 26, 2005 10:50 PM

Articles Related to Stem Cells: