As a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder, Rheumatoid Arthritis may be helped with mesenchymal stem cell treatment. Stem cells have an unprecedented ability to change into any cell in the body. This process is called differentiation. Stem cells can be administered intravenously to find and repair damaged tissue throughout the body.
When used in regards to Rheumatoid Arthritis patients, stem cells may be able to repair damaged tissue to reduce pain and increase mobility. This effect can be attributed to the anti-inflammatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells.
Stem cell therapy has shown potential benefits for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in terms of clinical outcomes, quality of life, and safety. Some of the benefits of stem cell therapy for RA include:
- Symptom relief: Stem cell therapy has been reported to improve symptoms in some RA patients, although the study in question also noted that larger trials are needed to confirm these effects.
- Disease modification: Stem cell therapy has been shown to modify the course of RA, with studies reporting a decrease in disease activity after treatment.
- Immune modulation: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a type of adult stem cell, have been used in clinical trials for RA patients due to their immune-modulating properties. These cells are known to down-regulate the inflammatory response, which can help alleviate RA symptoms.
- Tissue regeneration: Stem cell therapy has been shown to regenerate tissue in RA patients, which could potentially reverse some of the damage caused by the disease.
- Safety: Stem cell therapy has been reported as safe in most studies, with only mild side effects such as headache, nausea, and vomiting.
- Quality of life: Stem cell therapy has been shown to improve the quality of life for RA patients in some studies.
