Many genetic and autoimmune diseases, for example, Thalassemia, have not had a definitive treatment. Blood transfusion has been the go-to therapy. The solution to this problem has been found in stem cell treatment.
The Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for Thalassemia in Mexico has opened new doors in this area.
In collaboration with the leading stem cell research center, the Medical Tourism Corporation is providing this otherwise expensive treatment at affordable prices in Mexico.
We work with the world’s leading company in stem cell therapy and research. They have helped over 4,000 people in developing countries like India. Dr. Anand Srivastava, the CEO, and co-founder is a pioneer in the field of stem cell research.
Usually, in conditions like thalassemia, the need for blood transfusion becomes ardent. But a newer, more advanced and powerful solution to such problems has now been developed.
Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into various other functional forms if need be. This means that in conditions like an autoimmune disease, thalassemia, multiple sclerosis, etc. these blood cells can be used to regenerate the damaged part.
The blood contains certain components, one of which is hemoglobin. This is the oxygen-carrying constituent of blood. In thalassemia, it has a defective structure, which leads to a lack of healthy hemoglobin. The result will be a patient who is anemic, weak and has issues with some other organs as well.
This disease is genetic. The parental genes contribute to the expression of the disease in a child.
If one of the parents is a carrier, the child will inherit one defective gene out of the pair. This will lead to a form of the disease called Thalassemia Minor.
On the other hand, if both the parents are carriers, the child gets a defective pair. This will cause a life-threatening condition called Thalassemia major.
THALASSEMIA MINOR | THALASSEMIA MAJOR |
---|---|
Mild anemia | Severe anemia |
Weakness | Extreme malnourishment |
A yellowish tinge of the skin | Jaundice |
Poor appetite | Enlarged spleen |
Frequent infections | Major bone issues |
An international team of researchers performed a study in 2018. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to this article, 15 patients out of 22, who were suffering from Thalassemia, were able to stop transfusions altogether while others needed fewer of them.
Your condition will be examined by our multidisciplinary team of experts. This will include a study of your past medical reports along with the latest ones. The analysis will help them decide on a specific treatment plan for your condition.
A provisional treatment plan is discussed with the patient. Everything from the procedure to the cost is reviewed at length. If you have any questions for the doctor, this will be a good time to get them answered.
Once in Mexico, you will be given assistance at every step of the way. Our case managers will help you with the stay, logistics, and documentation.
Before the actual procedure begins, the patient is made comfortable. The doctors are readily available at all times, so if you have any doubts, feel free to speak your mind.
The patient is then taken to the exam room where a full examination is done. All the vital signs should be in check.
The site of injection is disinfected, the procedure begins.
The steps of the procedure are as follows:
The stem cells are activated in a closed environment using special machinery. This is done to avoid contamination. Stem cells take up the function of the damaged part of the body.
The infusion of stem cells can be done in one of the two ways given below:
The cells are infused directly at the target organ or tissue. This is done after a prescribed dose of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
In this method, the cells are administered through the veins. This will lead to an expanded blood volume. The result will be an increased number of cells reaching the target organ or tissue.
This is NOT a painful procedure. Most patients are comfortable during as well as after transplantation. If there is some discomfort or bruise-like pain post the procedure, the patient may be given painkillers.
Once the cells are infused, they work on the damaged target organ or tissue to revamp its functioning. The period of recovery will be 1-2 months after transplantation. During this time, your condition will be monitored constantly. If there is even the slightest problem, you will be given appropriate assistance.
This is a company co-founded by one of the pioneers in the field of stem cell research and technology, Dr. Anand Srivastava. He has been associated with leading universities and research institutions of the USA.
His expertise in stem cell biology, protein biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, in-utero transplantation of stem cell, tissue targeting, gene therapy, and clinical research makes him a very valuable asset to the company.
It is very important to be sure that the doctor you are seeking treatment from is qualified. We have an expert team of doctors at the Stem cell research center in Mexico. Here are some of their credentials:
Dr. Carlos Rodríguez
Dr. Luis Ismael Del Castillo
Dr. Gustavo De la Mora
Dr. Daniel Garza
Dr. Felipe Contla
To practice stem cell transplantation, special permits need to be taken from the authorities. In our network, we have three such centers in Mexico itself. These are located in three of the main cities of the country.
Here are a few other facts about our network Stem Cell Research Centers in Mexico:
Stem cells are the ones from which all the other specialized cells are made. They are the raw material of the body.
These can either be Embryonic stem cells or Adult stem cells.
Embryonic Stem Cells are part of an embryo which is 3-5 days old. These cells are usually obtained from cord blood and are pluripotent. This means they can differentiate and adapt to take up the function of any kind of cell in the body. This makes them useful in regenerative medicine.
Adult Stem Cells are found in some adult tissues like bone marrow and fat. These cells are Multipotent; they can give rise to some but not all kinds of body cells.
Nowadays, using genetic reprogramming, adult cells can be transformed into embryonic stem cells.
When infused into the body, these cells act on the target tissue which is damaged, to create new, healthy cells of the same variety.
Stem cell therapy is now being used to treat several kinds of disorders. For example, autoimmune, cardiovascular, neurological, blood-related disorders, which did not have a definitive cure until now. It is also being used as an anti-aging therapy.
Patients with active infections or cancer might not be good candidates. the first step should be to get treatment for these conditions. Patients taking blood thinners will need special consideration. The final say will be that of the doctor. To know more, kindly fill out the form given on the website.
The treatment for Thalassemia usually includes radiotherapy or chemotherapy as well. This is followed by stem cell transplantation. The whole process usually takes about 2 months. You might need more than one sitting depending on your condition. The schedule for your sittings will be prepared after proper examination.
The outcome will depend on a variety of factors. The extent of damage and the tissue or organ involved, are just some of them. Most people respond well to this therapy.
As with any other medical procedure, there can be no definitive result. However, most of our patients have benefited from this therapy. The only major concern in such a procedure is the rejection of infused cells. this is called graft versus host reaction. Although rare, proper matching needs to be done to avoid it.
This is a subjective matter. Everyone will have a different extent, location, and duration of disease. So, depending on all these factors, the medical experts will come to a provisional plan. This plan will then be discussed with you and finalized.
The basic concept behind both these methods is the same. Both methods make the use of stem cells to rejuvenate the body’s immune system.
These stem cells can be extracted from different parts of the body.
If they are taken from the bone marrow, the process will be known as Bone marrow transplantation.
If, however, the stem cells are obtained from tissues like the fat tissue, placenta, cord tissue, amniotic fluid, teeth, etc., it is given the name of Stem Cell transplantation.
Therefore, the difference only lies in the site from where the stem cells are taken.
At our network clinics, the fat tissue is first extracted and stem cells are isolated and cultivated. This is followed by the reverse aging process and assigning a function to the cells. These prepared cells are then infused into the patient’s body.
The two main complications of Thalassemia are Iron overload and Infections.
Iron overload occurs due to repeated blood transfusions. This will lead to accumulation of this iron in various organs. Further, this will lead to organ failure.
Other complications include bone deformities, heart problems, enlarged spleen, and slowed growth rates.
In the process of stem cell transplantation, one of the most important considerations is sterilization. It can make or break the case. This is why stem cell clinics have isolation rooms. Here, no outside personnel is allowed without wearing a sterilized gown. The medical staff entering the room is required to wash and sanitize their hands.
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