Overview
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by white scales and clearly demarcated red rashes. It is commonly seen on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp.
Psoriasis is a cyclic condition. While the exact cause remains unknown, it is believed to have a genetic component. Psoriasis is triggered in afflicted people by infections, cuts or burns, and medication.
What symptoms should one watch out for?
- Scaly rashes
- Small scaling spots
- Dry, cracked skin with a tendency to bleed
- Cyclic rashes that flare up for a few weeks or months before subsiding
While reading this, did you feel the urge to itch your skin and were itching continuously?
Well, itching or burns is another common symptom of psoriasis!
Psoriasis doesn’t have a particular test to confirm its diagnosis. The condition is diagnosed by a dermatologist after evaluating the symptoms.
Types
Treatment
Psoriasis doesn’t have a cure yet. Certain medications and treatments are available only to reduce the frequency of flare-ups.
But researchers have discovered a potential new treatment that could one day lead to a cure—stem cell treatment!
Stem Cell Treatment for Psoriasis
We are sure you’re wondering what stem cells are.
Well, stem cells are immature cells found in our bodies that can differentiate into any tissue.
The most used stem cells to treat psoriasis are hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stromal cells. These are found in the bone marrow of the hip bone or the fatty tissue of our abdomen.
Of course, there are other types of stem cells too, namely umbilical stem cells and embryonic stem cells. However, both these types of stem cells are not easily available, and are surrounded by major ethical concerns.
Since stem cells are abundantly available in our bodies in most cases, most clinical trials are conducted using autologous transplants, or the patient’s own cells.
Psoriasis stem cell therapy is quite new, and clinical trials are still ongoing. It is important to note here that this treatment is not FDA-approved.
Does Stem Cell for Psoriasis Work?
This is probably the top-most question in your mind, and we have some encouraging news for you.
Stem cell treatment has shown promising results in treating psoriasis. Not just by reducing the symptoms, but also by reducing the frequency of flare-ups.
Are you curious to know how does it work?
Remember how we said that stem cells can differentiate into any tissue of our bodies?
Well, that’s not their only ability.
They have several more, but the ones that contribute the most to treating psoriasis are:
- Their ability to repair and regenerate damaged tissue
- Their immunomodulatory response. This means they modulate the functions of regulatory T cells, whose hyperactivity leads to psoriasis.
- If this wasn’t enough, they are also anti-inflammatory. As a result, your flare-ups will be significantly milder after this treatment.
Benefits/Risks
| Benefits | Risks |
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Eligibility
How does one find out if they qualify for stem cell therapy psoriasis in the first place?
We have the answers.
Every clinical trial has its own set of stringent requirements.
However, some of the general ones are:
- Your diagnosis should be at least six months old
- Your psoriasis should be proven to be resistant to other treatments
- A biopsy should confirm your psoriasis diagnosis
- You should not have undergone any treatment for a minimum of two weeks
- You should not have an extensive medical history or any organ transplants
Procedure
You might be surprised to hear that stem cell for psoriasis can be done in three simple steps.
Yes, really!
| Step 1: Stem cell extraction |
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| Step 2: Stem cell preparation |
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| Step 3: Stem cell transplantation |
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The entire treatment is usually spread over two or three days to ensure maximum comfort for the patient.
What to Expect After Treatment?
Did you know you can return to your daily activities just one week after your stem cell transplant?
Yes, it’s true.
Stem cell treatment requires a very short recovery period. You will be discharged from the treatment facility one or two days after the transplant.
During the week of recovery, you will be asked to avoid all strenuous physical activity. That’s it.
Right after the procedure, you might feel a headache or some nausea. However, this is transient in nature and passes in a few hours.
Apart from this, no long-term side effects have been reported by any clinical trials in over a decade, making this a completely safe procedure.
Results
Are you concerned it will be a long time before you can see any results?
You can relax.
You will start seeing visible results two or three weeks after the procedure. The stem cells continue to form healthy new cells for almost a year after the transplant, during which you will see steady improvement in your condition.
You can expect the following:
- Clearing up of your symptoms, especially rashes
- Less reaction to triggers
- Reduction in the frequency of flare-ups
- Reduction in the severity of flare-ups
Unfortunately, it’s too soon to say if the results are permanent. Many patients have reported a relapse about a year after the transplant.
However, it has also been witnessed that the condition follows a significantly more benign course after the transplant.
Success Rates of Stem Cell Therapy for Psoriasis
The success rate of stem cell psoriasis is dependent on many factors such as the severity of the condition and the age of the patient.
Globally, the success rate of this treatment is 65 to 75%.
Cost of Stem Cell Treatment for Psoriasis
It is necessary for you to know the hit your wallet will take if you choose to undergo this treatment.
The cost of stem cell treatment depends on a variety of factors including:
- The type of facility you choose
- The severity of your condition
- The type of stem cells required
- Your medical history in general
Stem cell therapy for psoriasis in India will cost you 4,000 to 6,000 USD per cycle. This figure is inclusive of your hospital stay.
The same treatment will cost you 25,000 to 50,000 USD in the US!
It is important to note that since this treatment is still undergoing clinical trials, it is not covered by medical insurance.
Where is Stem Cell Therapy for Psoriasis Available?
Several countries are conducting clinical trials for psoriasis. Some of the more popular ones are:
- USA
- India
- Spain
- Canada
Several major health institutes in India have been conducting clinical trials for more than ten years. As a result, they have developed a treatment protocol that gives predictable results for almost every patient.
They consistently report a success rate of 70-80% in the treatment of psoriasis.
Yes, you read that right!
Present and Future Scope and Challenges of Stem Cell Therapy for Psoriasis
Clinical trials on stem cell treatment for psoriasis are ongoing for over ten years. Massive advancements have also been seen.
There is no denying that stem cell therapy could one day cure psoriasis too. However, there are certain challenges that also need to be overcome at this point.
A research paper written by S.M. Lwin, J.A. Snowden, and C.E.M. Griffiths addresses this exact issue. They state that researchers still need to understand how to use stem cells to extend the remission period of this condition.
They concluded that while these points still need to be ironed out, stem cell treatment is the only current treatment that has the potential to become a cure. They also stated that no other advanced treatment is as safe as stem cell therapy.
Do you think stem cell treatment for psoriasis is the right treatment for you?
Did you say a yes?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the duration of Psoriasis Treatment?
What are the different treatments available for Psoriasis?
Can Laser Treatment be used for Psoriasis?
Is Psoriasis contagious?
What are the different types of psoriasis?
What is the cost to treat Psoriasis?
What are stem cells and how are they useful?
What diseases can be treated through stem cells?
