DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 76-year-old male whos thinking of having fetal stem cell therapy for Parkinsons disease. Please tell me your feelings and offer advice on this subject matter? S.C.
ANSWER: I am frequently asked about stem cell treatment, and my answer is usually that the theory makes sense and preliminary results are encouraging, but further research is necessary before I (by nature, a conservative physician) feel comfortable advising it for various conditions, including Parkinsons disease.
However, recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have made me even more concerned this time, about infection. In December, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about stem cell treatment from umbilical cord blood. Twelve patients became ill with infections from E. coli and other fecal bacteria after injection, and the bacteria were found in unopened vials of the stem cells. The FDA plans to increase inspection of stem cell operators. There have been other adverse events reported, such as loss of eyesight (after injections into the eye) and growth of a spinal tumor.
I do not recommend stem cell treatment at this time, apart from its use in combination with chemotherapy for cancer or immune system diseases. More data is needed to prove its effectiveness, and better procedures are necessary to reduce infection risk.
