AIIMS Study Says Stem Cells may Not be Able to Cure All Diseases

A new study from researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) says that contrary to popular perception stem cells may not be the answer to all diseases. In this particular study researchers from AIIMS assessed the usefulness of stem cells in treating stroke. Te study involved 120 patients of whom 60 received conventional treatment and 60 received stem cells therapy. The patients were assessed at three, six and 12 months.

The study was funded by the department of biotechnology, ministry of science and technology and included participants from SGPGI Lucknow, PGIMER Chandigarh, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune and Army Research and Referral, New Delhi.

"We conducted this study over a period of six years-from 2008 to 2014-to assess the benefit of stem cell treatment in stroke patients. While there was no harm with injecting the stem cells, we found no statistically significant benefit in patients who were given the novel therapy compared to those getting conventional treatment such as anti-platelets, anti-coagulants and statins," Dr Kameshwar Prasad, head of neurology department at AIIMS, told the Times of India.

The researchers have cautioned patients against seeking stem cells treatments for diseases until there is solid evidence to back such cures.

Source-Medindia