Brittle bone diseases and stem cells therapy

Stem cells treatment for children

Any treatment that is aimed at a baby tends to arouse concern because the risks and damage caused by an ineffective treatment or side effects that may be shocking. A new treatment of stem cell targeted healing brittle bone disease - also known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta, however, it is undoubtedly prolonging the lives of children suffering from this condition, making it a potential new treatment.

What is brittle bone disease?

Brittle bone disease is a genetic defect that affects the production of collagen in a person. This eventually led to break the bones brittle, weak and stunted growth. There are several types of brittle bone disease - those with the type of brittle bone disease usually suffer III fractures while still in the womb and rarely live beyond the early adult years. Even a simple act such as rolls over in bed or coughing can cause a bone fracture. Clearly, the effects of the devastating disease and new therapies are crucial to improving the health and daily lives of children with brittle bone disease and improved longevity.

Round the world research

Research into stem cells and brittle bone disease has been made in many areas around the globe, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States. In one study, a team of researchers injected stem cells from human foetal through the wall of the uterus in the mouse foetuses that were only fourteen days old. By the age of three months, mice that were treated had only a half of long bone fractures of the group of mice was untreated. It was conceived that injections of stem cells provided the genetic match are right, can help improve the production of collagen. Another study used stem cells together evil livers of foetuses aborted.

The treatment was performed in a baby that had been identified as suffering from brittle bone disease. While she was in the uterus, she was injected with stem cells. It was found that for nine months of age, she had not rejected the stem cells, despite concerns that it might do so. They also found that she suffered a marked reduction in the number of fractures that a child with brittle bone disease is typically - with only three fractures by the age of two and a half years. Given that children with the disease tend to suffer hundreds of fractures, the results are very promising.

Drugs with stem cells

There are currently available drug for treating brittle bone disease of stem cells but have added advantages. There is a further increase in length of the member and several children in the United States, in fact, have already received treatment. Treat all children while still in the womb and the results so far is favourable.

Brittle bone disease has a devastating effect on children and we are fortunate that we can identify those that carry the genetic defect before birth. The fight, however, is finding ways to actually treat the child, given the knowledge that he or she has brittle bone disease. Stem cells have the latent to improve the lives of children suffering from the disease by reducing the number of fractures suffered. This means that one day, if a father heard the painful news that their baby has become the brittle bone disease, there hopefully will be effective options for treatment with stem cells.