Wrist Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with Stem Cell Therapy
Wrist Rheumatoid Arthritis afflicts many patients. For some, a simple medication helps. For others those medications create chaos in the body. It is a complicated subject, autoimmune diseases. The body literally attacks itself destroying synovium, cartilage and bone. It is most noticeable in the smaller joints especially the bones of the hands. It can be very disfiguring in small joints. The wrist is a larger joint and just like knees and hips is more amenable to regenerative therapy. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP ) and Stem Cell Therapy have been used as an option when patients respond poorly to the cytokine treatments of TNF-a or IL -1 blockade.
The problem is our bodies need some of these inflammatory cytokines to fight infection. This is why not all people can tolerate these medications. Our own natural Cytokine or inflammatory response system is our stem cells. The problem is getting the stem cells to the joint. Joints can be avascular, meaning poor blood supply thus the stem cells never get to the needed area. Modern regenerative medicine has figured out we can place growth factors from PRP and the stem cells directly into to joint to promote healing. Patients of Dr. Lox who have suffered with wrist rheumatoid arthritis did well after treating. Quality of life with her hands has improved.