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Stroke patients see 'improvements' after stem cell trial | Stroke patients see 'improvements' after stem cell trial |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Eleanor Bradford BBC Scotland Health Correspondent | By Eleanor Bradford BBC Scotland Health Correspondent |
The first patients to take part in a clinical trial of a stem cell treatment for stroke have seen reductions in their disability, according to doctors. | The first patients to take part in a clinical trial of a stem cell treatment for stroke have seen reductions in their disability, according to doctors. |
Six patients in the west of Scotland had human stem cells inserted close to the damaged part of their brain. | Six patients in the west of Scotland had human stem cells inserted close to the damaged part of their brain. |
After receiving the treatment, they saw improvements in the limb weakness they suffered as a result of their stroke. | |
Howeve, doctors have cautioned against reading too much into the early results of the clinical trial. | |
It is the world's first trial of a neural stem cell therapy for stroke. | It is the world's first trial of a neural stem cell therapy for stroke. |
Stroke is the third largest cause of death and the single largest cause of adult disability in the developed world. | Stroke is the third largest cause of death and the single largest cause of adult disability in the developed world. |
The trial is being conducted at the Institute of Neurological Sciences at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, and is being led by Glasgow University neurologist Professor Keith Muir. | The trial is being conducted at the Institute of Neurological Sciences at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, and is being led by Glasgow University neurologist Professor Keith Muir. |
He said: "So far we've seen no evidence of any harmful effects. We're dealing with a group of people a long time after a stroke with significant disability and we don't really expect these patients to show any change over time. | He said: "So far we've seen no evidence of any harmful effects. We're dealing with a group of people a long time after a stroke with significant disability and we don't really expect these patients to show any change over time. |
"So it's interesting to see that in all the patients so far they have improved slightly over the course of their involvement in the study." | "So it's interesting to see that in all the patients so far they have improved slightly over the course of their involvement in the study." |
All six patients suffered a stroke six months to five years before they were recruited to the trial, and all had been left with limb weakness. | All six patients suffered a stroke six months to five years before they were recruited to the trial, and all had been left with limb weakness. |
The patients were assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. | The patients were assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. |
Prior to the study, the first five patients had a median score of eight. Three months after treatment their median score had fallen to four. | Prior to the study, the first five patients had a median score of eight. Three months after treatment their median score had fallen to four. |
The sixth patient was treated less than three months ago. Six further patients will be treated as part of this Phase 1 trial. | The sixth patient was treated less than three months ago. Six further patients will be treated as part of this Phase 1 trial. |
Professor Muir said he was "intrigued" by the early results. | Professor Muir said he was "intrigued" by the early results. |
He added: "We know that if you're involved in a trial you are going to see patients change in behaviour, particularly if you're doing something invasive, so we need to be very cautious indeed in interpreting these results. | He added: "We know that if you're involved in a trial you are going to see patients change in behaviour, particularly if you're doing something invasive, so we need to be very cautious indeed in interpreting these results. |
"However, that said, it is not something we'd anticipated seeing in this group of patients." | "However, that said, it is not something we'd anticipated seeing in this group of patients." |
Further trials are needed to establish whether stem cells actually help the brain repair damaged tissue. | |
Michael Hunt, chief executive officer of the company developing the treatment, ReNeuron, said: "The clinical trial is primarily a safety study and we must therefore treat any of the observed early indications of functional benefit with considerable caution at this stage. | Michael Hunt, chief executive officer of the company developing the treatment, ReNeuron, said: "The clinical trial is primarily a safety study and we must therefore treat any of the observed early indications of functional benefit with considerable caution at this stage. |
"That said, we remain encouraged by the results seen in the study to date and we look forward to providing further updates." | "That said, we remain encouraged by the results seen in the study to date and we look forward to providing further updates." |
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