angel7
04-24-2002, 01:44 PM
dopamine cells continue to mature in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease and to exert therapeutic effects, according to investigators.
Dr. Curt R. Freed, of the University of Colorado, Denver, presented his team's findings to date with fetal cell transplants in 34 patients with moderate to severe Parkinson's at the 54th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology here Wednesday. "The transplants match the best effects of L-dopa...the best drug response equals the best transplant response," Dr. Freed said.
Embryonic dopamine cell transplants are advantageous to drug therapy: because the cells continue to mature in the brain and provide a steadier therapeutic response than levodopa, as shown by MRI and autopsy, Dr. Freed told Reuters Health.
"The transplanted cells are raising the base [of disease] with no off episodes" and "produce a steady effect" such as can be associated with levodopa therapy, he said.
When embryonic dopamine cells are taken from the substantia nigra, they lack the black pigmentation characteristic of more mature cells. After transplantation and as the cells mature, they take on the dark color of older substantia nigra cells, Dr. Freed said.
In addition, "even though [they are] embryonic, [MRI shows that] these cells are picking up appropriate signals from the putamen of the elderly Parkinson's brain," he said.
There has been no evidence of cell rejection in patients because the cells are embryonic and the brain lacks a strong rejection response, according to Dr. Freed.
Neurologists treating these patients believe that fetal cell transplants for Parkinson's disease will be economically advantageous. "The cost of drugs and medical care is about $5000 to $10,000 per year. The cost of a transplant is about $25,000 to $30,000, so the cost can be made back in very few years," Dr. Freed commented.
"We're just beginning to recognize the power of cell therapy in treating disease. The future looks bright," he said.
Dr. Curt R. Freed, of the University of Colorado, Denver, presented his team's findings to date with fetal cell transplants in 34 patients with moderate to severe Parkinson's at the 54th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology here Wednesday. "The transplants match the best effects of L-dopa...the best drug response equals the best transplant response," Dr. Freed said.
Embryonic dopamine cell transplants are advantageous to drug therapy: because the cells continue to mature in the brain and provide a steadier therapeutic response than levodopa, as shown by MRI and autopsy, Dr. Freed told Reuters Health.
"The transplanted cells are raising the base [of disease] with no off episodes" and "produce a steady effect" such as can be associated with levodopa therapy, he said.
When embryonic dopamine cells are taken from the substantia nigra, they lack the black pigmentation characteristic of more mature cells. After transplantation and as the cells mature, they take on the dark color of older substantia nigra cells, Dr. Freed said.
In addition, "even though [they are] embryonic, [MRI shows that] these cells are picking up appropriate signals from the putamen of the elderly Parkinson's brain," he said.
There has been no evidence of cell rejection in patients because the cells are embryonic and the brain lacks a strong rejection response, according to Dr. Freed.
Neurologists treating these patients believe that fetal cell transplants for Parkinson's disease will be economically advantageous. "The cost of drugs and medical care is about $5000 to $10,000 per year. The cost of a transplant is about $25,000 to $30,000, so the cost can be made back in very few years," Dr. Freed commented.
"We're just beginning to recognize the power of cell therapy in treating disease. The future looks bright," he said.