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Stem cell therapy cures Parkinson's patient Jangveer Singh Tribune News Service Bangalore, April 4 Indian stem cell researchers at the Manipal hospital here today announced the first worldwide case of a recovery from Parkinson's disease by use of stem cells from the patient's own body. The claim is significant because the patient, Andrew Kisana, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, had come to Manipal hospital for treatment for Parkinson's disease after receiving both conventional as well as surgical treatment for the disease in the US. "This is clearly the first such clearly documented case in which a patient has recovered from Parkinson's disease after the use of stem cells", hospital managing director R. Basil disclosed. Andrew's recovery is significant. His daughter Kusma told TNS that her father found it difficult to walk and was dragging his right leg when he was admitted to the Manipal hospital last year. Andrew had found it difficult to swallow and even breathe when he was admitted to the hospital. Andrew walked unaided to meet mediapersons today. Though his speech has improved, it is still slightly blurred. So he put across his thoughts via his laptop. Andrew said since his treatment here his general muscle strength had improved as had his gait, handwriting and bowel movements. He can walk unaided, which was impossible earlier and his tremors have reduced significantly. Andrew said earlier though his motor skills had improved after a deep brain stimulation surgery conducted on him in the USA, he started having side effects, including severe laryngeal spasms. He said the current treatment had ensured an end to these spasms also. Andrew has been off all drugs for Parkinson's disease since the past six months. Explaining how this came about, hospital's nuerological disease institute head Dr N.K Venkataramana said Andrew had received three injections of isolated mesenchymal cells which had been harvested from his bone marrow. As many as 1.5 million of these stem cells had been transplanted into his brain. He said each injection cost Rs 75,000 adding that the cost could be reduced at a later stage. Dr Venkataramana said stem cell research seemed to be promising in regenerating hope to cure Parkinson's disease as the present treatment at the best removed some of the symptoms but did not stop the progression of the disease. He said the present initiative would motivate patients across the world to explore this new modality which did not involve any issue of ethics as adult stem cells were used. "However, we need to observe the long term clinical effects in large number of patients to decide its role in the treatment of degenerative diseases", he added. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn