Hyderabad: Apollo part of tests on spinal injuries

Hyderabad: To treat spinal cord injuries with umbilical cord blood, permission is being taken from the Drug Controller General of India as clinical trials in China have proved to be promising. The trials in China have shown that use of umbilical cord blood has helped patients attain functionality.

Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad will be part of the clinical trial in India. The number of people suffering from spinal cord injuries in India is estimated to be 5 lakh.

Disability due to the injury results in inability to walk, bladder functioning is affected along with other functional issues. Dr Wise Young, senior researcher, said, “In the clinical trials in China, mononuclear cells from umbilical cord blood were transplanted in the spinal cord injury of the patients. In the 41 patients treated, one-third of them were transplanted with cells in the cervical area and two-third in the thoracic area.” Dr Young said in 75 per cent of the spinal cord injury patients, the transplant was done below the injury.