The prevalence of neural injuries from unproven stem cell therapies

A team of researchers led by UConn Health (CT, USA) recently conducted a nationwide survey of US academic neurologists’ experience in complications associated with stem cell tourism. The results of the survey, published in Annals of Neurology, demonstrate that neural injuries as a result of unproven stem cell therapies are more common than expected, with one in four neurologists reporting having had a patient with tumors, nerve damage, infections and even death as a result of stem cell injections.

“The ultimate goal of this research is to be able to determine the extent of the complications and the readiness of neurologists to counsel patients. All of us are interested in bringing real stem cells to the clinic, but this process is arduous and requires a great level of rigor and reproducibility,” commented Jaime Imitola (UConn Health), senior author of the paper.

Source: www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/uoc-sc072420.php