In 2010 a patient told me about stem cells in the treatment of
fibromyalgia [1]. What are stell cells? I’ll introduce some of these cells to
you. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells, which differentiate into other
cells like liver or other organ cells or hematopoietic cells. You have fetal or
adult stem cells. Bone marrow transplants use stem cells from the bone marrow
of the patient (autologous) or from a donor (allogenic). Allogenic grafts bear
the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a serious condition, which might
lead to death. The more matching the donor’s proteins are, the less risky the
transplant will be. Transplanting a xenograft means using cells from another
species. The FDA issued a warning about stem cells [2]: “FDA has not approved
any stem cell-based products for use, other than cord blood-derived
hematopoietic progenitor cells (blood forming stem cells) for certain
indications including certain blood cancers and some inherited metabolic and
immune system disorders.”
Today someone tried to put an ad for a stem cell therapy on my blog: ”Fibomyalgia
is called a invisible syndrome. Because it is so difficult to diagnose this
disease by lab test. 2%-4% of the people are affected by this syndrome and most
of them are women. Fibromyalgia treatment [a link to a commercial page]“.
Concerning these stem cells what we have is the Frischzellentherapie [live-cell therapy] by Niehans. The cells are
derived out of sheep fetus for instance, a xenograft (graft of a different
species) – that would make it a FDA non-approved therapy. The last article on Frischzellentherapie has been by de
Ridder and colleagues in 1987 [3]: “[2 cases of death following cell therapy].”
The authors told us: “In one instance, a 75-year-old woman died 30 days after
an intramuscular injection of quick-frozen fresh cells from the effects of an
immune-complex vasculitis; in the other, a 60-year-old woman died 14 days after
"original fresh-cell treatment after Prof. Niehans" from perivenous
leucoencephalitis.”
The page is well done showing two models, who pose as medical doctors; I
looked up the photographs on Google Images. These models are always equipped
with stethoscopes. Maybe they want to listen to the sound of the stem cells or
expect tender points to squeak with pain. Interestingly they were also used on
a homepage for a dentist in Bulgaria – for what would he have use for a
stethoscope?
And they offer two links for research papers. The first link brings you
to an article in German about the history of the Frischzellentherapie. Niehans himself had written, however [4]: „Neben «Organschädigungen» und
«Altersgebrechen» könne mit ihr etwa die damals mit dem Begriff «Mongolismus»
bezeichnete heutige «Trisomie 21» ebenso
geheilt werden wie auch die «Fehlentwicklung» Homosexualität.“ [Translation:
"In addition to "organ damage" and "old age", the "trisomy
21", which was then referred to as the "Mongolism", could be
cured as well as the" misdevelopment" homosexuality.”]
The Frischzellentherapie
[live-cell therapy] has been popular in Germany during the 50ies and 60ies.
Wikipedia has an article in German [5], which tells us on risks: “[Like any
foreign tissue, fetal cattle or sheep cells can cause severe allergic reactions
to an allergic shock with cardiac arrest. There is no scientific evidence of
the efficacy of the therapy. Therefore, evidence-based medicine basically
rejects cell therapy.]” And: [“Medical practitioners refer to the preparations
used as a risk material, in which there is the risk that diseases of an animal
are transmitted to humans, for example BSE, rabies or Q-fever. The World Health
Organization (WHO) issued a warning. Other risks arise from the possible
occurrence of autoimmune diseases.”]
In 2015 there has been an article on unauthorized living cell therapies
in Switzerland [6], as there is no such authorization. Penal proceedings
against clinics using these therapies have been initiated then.
Have a look at scientific articles! Oh, sorry there are none. Here are a few
searches on stem cells and fibromyalgia:
("Adult Stem Cells"[Mesh]) AND "Fibromyalgia"[Mesh] No
documents match your search terms
("Fibromyalgia"[Mesh]) AND "Mesenchymal Stromal
Cells"[Mesh] No documents match your search terms
("Fibromyalgia"[Mesh]) AND "Tissue Therapy,
Historical"[Mesh] No documents match your search terms
“Cellular (cell) therapy can be defined as the use of natural cells to
treat a disease. It starts with the selection of organs cells from a fetal
animal specially bred for this purpose”, boasts the homepage of this doubtable
stem cell therapy. And: “Due to the fact that this fetal cells DO NOT contain
antigens, they are not recognized as foreign by the human body.” How could this
be as the cells are from a another species (animal)? So the second link to an
article is worthless as it looks at human mesenchymal stem cells [7].
Monthly injections will cost 512.91 US$ and capsules
to be taken orally 431.91 US$. Lots of certificates: “Not tested on Animals” –
wow, you kill animals, but are proud that you didn’t test it on animals – wait
a second, don’t tell me you did unapproved human testing. More likely you didn’t
test it at all.
I cannot recommend this “therapy”. You better stay away from it.
Links and References:
[2] https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm286218.htm
and https://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/transparency/basics/ucm194655.htm
[4] Niehans P. 20 Jahre
Zellulartherapie. Berlin, München, Wien: Urban & Schwarzenberg 1952, (= Beihefte zur Medizinischen Klinik, 47), https://stem-cells-therapy.com/papers/v5jpnbdbzido.pdf?x19010
.
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