Stem Cell Treatment for Digestive Diseases
Add comment May 5th, 2006
Stem Cell Treatment for Digestive Diseases
Irritable bowel disease (IBD) : also known as irritable bowel syndrome, includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Chron’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. It primarily causes ulcerations (breaks in the lining) of the small and large intestines, but can affect the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It is named after the physician who described the disease in 1932. It also is called granulomatous enteritis or colitis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis. Ulcerative colitis is also a chronic inflammatory condition that involves only the colon. IBD affects approximately 500,000 to 2 million people in the United States.
The exact cause of IBD is unknown. Some scientists suspect it may be triggered by infections from certain bacteria, but definitive evidence to support this is lacking. IBD may be caused by autoimmune reactions. While the immune system normally defends the body against harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other foreign invaders, if the body’s own tissues are mistakenly recognized as “foreign,” an autoimmune disease can result. Other examples of autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks tissues of the pancreas, joints and bloodstream, respectively. In the case of IBD, the immune system attacks the cells lining the digestive tract. Recent research suggest irritable bowel syndrome may involve genetic predisposing factors.
Currently there is no medical cure for IBD, and current treatments are not very effective. Once the diseases begin, they tend to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse); the treatment goal is to promote longer periods of remission and reduce the frequency and duration of relapses. Current approaches include treatment, as necessary, with anti-inflammatory medications, immune suppressing agents, anti-diarrheal medications and/or other drugs. Dietary modifications, such as reducing fiber intake and consuming a liquid diet, can be helpful. If portions of the intestine become severely diseased, surgery may be required.
How Stem Cell Transplant Therapy Helps
Because IBD involves immune system destruction of cells in the intestine, stem cell therapy has the potential to help treat the disease by regenerating some of the destroyed tissue and/or favorably modulating the immune system so it is less prone to attacking the intestinal cells.
Scientific Foundations
Clinical experience to date suggests stem cell therapy for irritable bowel syndrome can promote longer periods of remission and reduce the frequency and duration of relapses.
Read information on the safety of IRM stem cell treatment.
Chron’s disease. http://www.medicinenet.com
