2011
Six months ago the first person to receive human embryonic stem cells for a severe spinal injury completed the procedure. The patient was infused with a drug made from embryonic stem cells and received the treatment in his partially paralyzed spine. Since the time of the procedure the identity of the patient has remained secret. Recently, the patient who received the treatment identified himself.
The patient is a 21-year-old nursing student from Alabama. In a telephone interview with the Washington Post he said he was the first patient and that he was, "doing well." Before the young man's accident occurred, he was a student at the University of South Alabama College of Nursing. On September 25, 2010 the 21-year-old crashed his car and suffered a spinal cord injury that left him partially paralyzed.
The young man first received emergency medical care at a regional hospital but was then transferred to Shepherd Center in Atlanta. The Shepherd Center specializes in the treatment and rehabilitation of spinal cord injuries, and it is there the young man agreed to the novel procedure. The young man was injected with more than 2 million cells created from stem cells in his spine. The experiment was the first attempt to study an embryonic stem cell therapy.
The main purpose of the first trial of the procedure is to measure safety, but there is an obvious interest in whether the procedure will restore sensation and movement. The young man has had three follow-up tests and is scheduled for another two tests this year. The 21-year-old said it was too premature to talk about whether the procedure has helped. He plans to continue his nursing studies in August.
Source: The Washington Post, "First patient to get stem cell therapy comes forward," Rob Stein, 4/7/11
Tags: car crash, partially paralyzed, rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, stem cell therapyComments: Leave a commentView the Original article