Kidney Transplant Eliminates Need for Immunosuppressive Drugs (1/3/2007)
Dr. Samuel Strober with the Stanford Medical Center Program in Multi-Organ Transplantation has begun a clinical trial
that intends to eliminate the need for immunosuppressive drugs after transplantation of a kidney. This treatment, if
successful, could dramatically increase the odds of survival for kidney transplant recipients.
The phase one clinical trial is funded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The goal is to recruit
15 patients over a five year period, that will undergo a kidney transplant from a HLA-identical sibling (human leukocyte antigen).
After the procedure the patient will be injected with blood stem cells to determine if it will change the immune system such
that immunosuppressive drugs can be completely withdrawn.
In detail:
A couple of months before kidney transplant surgery, blood stem cells will be extracted from the donor and the cells
will be frozen. After transplant surgery, the recipient will receive radiation and anti-T cell antibody treatments
for two weeks to prepare for injection of the stem cells. The stem cells will be injected at the end of the two-week
treatment. If the stem cells survive and persist in the recipient, immunosuppressive drugs will be gradually reduced
until they are withdrawn completely at six months after transplantation.
Currently, 3 transplantations have been completed and 3 more are undergoing evaluation to determine if they are
eligible for the program. The results are promising but there is not enough data yet to publish in a
scientific journal.
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Comments:
| 1. |
Yanick McDonald |
1/5/2007 1:18:49 AM MST |
If this treatment is perfected. will be it available within 5 years to Canada? Im curious because i am on the transplant list for a kidney. |
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