Stem Cell Therapy for Treacher Collins syndrome “a rare syndrome”
Stem cells offer the potential to overcome the technical difficulties associated with existing cell therapy treatments. Stem cells are the primitive undifferentiated cells that have the ability to give rise to the many different specialized types of cells (differentiated cells) that make up the organs and tissues in the human body. They can be made to grow in the laboratory and retain the ability to differentiate into the particular specialized cell type required. Stem cells have also been shown to migrate from the point of implant and home into areas of disease or damage, sometimes over considerable distances.
The advances in the use of stem cells to cure disease and even grow new organs, has now led to a first ever surgical breakthrough, giving a boy born without cheekbones a new lease on life. The surgery using cadaver bone and the boy’s own stem cells resulted in the growth of new facial bones.
Brad Guilkey, 15, suffers from a rare genetic disorder, called Treacher Collins syndrome, which prevents the bones and other tissues in the face from developing. Besides the severe facial disfigurement, the condition also limits Brad’s ability to play sports, like other boys his age. Without the protection of facial bones, a blow to his face with a basketball could crush his eyeball.
In May, doctors performed an experimental treatment on Brad, implanting cadaver bone in his face and injecting it with his own nourishing stem cells, during an eight-hour surgical procedure.
Since the time of the surgery, Brad has grown solid bone in his face, due to the stem cells triggering the cadaver bone back to life. Doctor is “pleasantly surprised” by the successful outcome of the experimental stem cell surgery.
Brad Guilkey and his parents see it as a miracle.
According to the recent study, about 1 in 50,000 people are affected by the rare syndrome and now with the STEM CELL THERAPY, these rare syndromes can be treated successfully.
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