Stem cell therapy offers ray of hope for muscular dystrophy patients

Chennai: Stem cell therapy proved successful for 25-year-old Venkatraman Krishnamurthy, a victim of duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD), who was in his final stages five to six years ago.

With severe contracture and no muscle mass, the teenager was on a road to deterioration, the fact that distressed his parents. Despite trying on various alternative medicines, his condition did not improve.

However, Venkatraman’s case sets a positive example for many DMD patients to try out stem cell therapy that would help in prolonging the life. DMD is a genetic disorder and an incurable disease, which degenerates the process of the muscles, resulting in decreased mobility, breathing problems, heart failure and ultimately, a premature death, said Dr Nandini Gokulchandran, deputy director and head, medical Services, Neurogen Brain and Spine Institute.

It is only after the interference of the institute has Venkatraman has seen a ray of hope. “I am confident to be on my own now. My quality of life has improved a lot,” said Venkatraman, who is fondly called as Venky.

Venky’s mother, Varsha Krishnamurthy recalled of how possible treatments like Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homeopathy failed to develop her son’s condition. “Venky got convulsions two to three times when he was 9 months old, post which he was diagnosed with DMD. His cough muscles had become tight when he was 10 years old. He stopped walking by the time he was 13,” the mother, with eyes welling with water, explained.

Venky, who has a progressive duchene muscular dystrophy had undergone eleven rounds of stem cell therapy, which helps in the increase of his heart size and gain muscle mass. “His breathing capacity has improved. The downhill course of his health has stopped,” said Dr Nandini.

One round of stem cell therapy along with a customised rehabilitation programme improves the strength of muscles and the overall stamina of the patient. In a systematic pattern, Venky was given exercises that helped him overcome the fatigue and improve his balance.

It is a seven-day programme, along with a customised rehabilitation, costing around Rs 2.5 lakhs on an average. As Venky suffers a progressive DMD, he would require the treatment once in six months to one year. Each subsequent round would be around 1.25 lakhs,” explained Dr Nandini.

Despite the rising cases of DMD in India, there seems to be little or no awareness of the condition. “In smaller towns and villages, most people have no idea about the disease. Several people even confuse DMD with polio for a long time after the child starts showing the first symptoms. Many even end up trying herbal remedies, hoping for the cure,” said Dr Alok Sharma, professor and Head of Neurosurgery, LTMG Hospital & LTM Medical College, Sion Mumbai and director NeuroGen Brain & Spine Institute.

What is stem cell therapy?

It is the use of stem cells to treat a condition or a disease. Besides duchene muscular dystrophy, it has yielded positive results in autism. Head and spinal injury, cerebral palsy, mental retardation are, among others that could be treated using stem cell therapy.