Wet Macular Degeneration - Stem Cell Research

by Therese
(Philadelphia, PA)

My mother has macular degeneration, lives in Philadelphia, is 83 years old and I am trying to find her a stem cell study.

Therese

REPLY

Hi Therese,

Currently there are no clinical trials listed using stem cells for macular degeneration.

There is a study in Philadelphia called:

Dose Ranging Study of Pazopanib to Treat Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The purpose of thes study is:

"To determine the safety and efficacy of different dosage regimens of pazopanib eye drops for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration."


Kind Regards,

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Macular Degeneration Stem Cell Research

by Muhammad

Leslie,thank you very much for communicating fresh
informations in your Email sent JAN 15,2011. It is very exciting.

I want to know the answers of following questions.

1. Have scientists announced the results of clinical trials on human beings?

2. Can I offer myself for the trial? If yes,tell me the way for enromement?

3 How much time will be required for clinical trials to become a treatment?

REPLY

Hi Muhammad,

You bring up some good questions on clinical trials. Results for clinical trials often take years, because studies have to go through several phases before it is determined if the new treatment offers any improvement over conventional treatment.

Each clinical trial has very specific eligibility requirements that a patient must meet to be in the study. As of this posting these requirements are not yet defined.

Thanks for your questions.

Kind Regards,

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Macular Degeneration - Stem Cell Therapy India

by Basant
(India)

What is the role of STEM CELL THERAPY in the treatment of Macular degeneration?

If yes can you suggest any centre in India for the treatment of AMD?

REPLY

Hello Basant,

Currently there are no clinical trials in the use of stem cell therapy for macular degeneration in India. This type of research is still very new.

This is a good opportunity to give some explanation on the differences in the effectiveness of embryonic and adult stem cell therapy.

One of the biggest benefits of seeking to use adult stem cells is that when a patient's own stem cells are used there is less risk of rejection. Here is a paragraph from the U.S. National Institute of Health on Stem Cell Research:

"Adult stem cells, and tissues derived from them, are currently believed less likely to initiate rejection after transplantation. This is because a patient's own cells could be expanded in culture, coaxed into assuming a specific cell type (differentiation), and then reintroduced into the patient.

The use of adult stem cells and tissues derived from the patient's own adult stem cells would mean that the cells are less likely to be rejected by the immune system.

This represents a significant advantage, as immune rejection can be circumvented only by continuous administration of immunosuppressive drugs, and the drugs themselves may cause deleterious side effects."

Go hear to read the complete article:

Stem Cell Basics

Kind Regards,

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN