How To Treat Peripheral Neuropathy with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy?

What is Peripheral and Diabetic Neuropathy?

Severe damage of the peripheral nerves that leads to weakness and pain in the affected region is called peripheral neuropathy.

Out of the millions of patients with diabetes in the US, 60-70% of the population regardless of type 1 or 2 diabetes are susceptible to suffering from diabetic neuropathy. However, type-2 diabetes patients are at more risk of suffering from peripheral neuropathy.

In this condition, the blood sugar level consistently rises and damages the nerves throughout the body.

Both types of neuropathy affect the nerves surrounding the brain and spinal cord limiting its functionalities and causing degeneration over time.

Also, 50% of the diabetic patients are at the risk of developing foot ulcers. Diabetic neuropathy patients with extreme foot ulcers need to undergo amputation. Nevertheless, stem cell therapy can significantly reduce the condition of foot ulcers and eliminate the chances of surgery.

Primarily, controlling the glycemic levels is a priority for patients with peripheral neuropathy.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis method includes several clinical and quantitative tests. Let us briefly navigate the diagnosis conditions for confirming diabetic or peripheral neuropathy –

• Deficiency of Vitamin B12 in the complete blood count
• Testing for Haemoglobin A1c
• Exposure to heavy metals
• Electrolyte imbalance in the basic or complete metabolic panel
• Withdrawal to long-term diseases like Lyme disease or HIV
• Testing for thyroid function
• Electromyography
• Biopsy of the nerves
• Testing for genetics
• Age
• Radio imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans

[Read Also:Promising Role of Stem Cells For Treating Peripheral Neuropathy ]

Symptoms and Causes of Peripheral and Diabetic Neuropathy

Every peripheral nerve has a unique function. The conditional symptoms depend on which type of nerve is affected. Motor, sensory, and autonomic nerves are affected. Furthermore, neuropathy can affect one or more nerves.

Symptoms

• Segmental demyelination – Degeneration of the myelin sheath (protective nerve layers) leading to inflammation.
• Wallerian degeneration – Passive but sure wearing down of the nerve axon.
• Axonal degeneration – This type of degeneration causes trophic changes to the muscles.
• Numbness or no sensation – Difficulty in sensing physical organs.
• Sharp and burning sensation – Inflammation leading to constant pain.
• Weakness of the muscles – Weakened muscles due to weakened nerves.
• Imbalance of motor abilities – Inability to walk.
• Intolerance to heat – Excessive sweating regardless of the weather conditions.
• Hypotension – Reduced blood pressure levels.
• Gastrointestinal problems – Problems with bowel and digestion.
• Vision impairment – Inability or reduced ability to see clearly.
• Uncontrolled reflexes – Sudden actions and responses.
• Erectile dysfunction – Infertility or inability to sustain an erection required for reproductive activities.

Leading health causes of neuropathy include –

Causes

• Autoimmune disorder – Diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis aggravate the chances of neuropathy.
• Diabetes – The most common cause of neuropathy due to the unhinged rise of sugar in the blood levels.
• Genetical disorders – If a person from the family has a history of neuropathy, the chances of their successors developing the same condition are higher.
• Infections – Viral infections due to Lyme disease or HIV accelerate the development of neuropathy.
• Abuse of Drugs – Excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking can increase the risk of neuropathy.
• Deficiency of Vitamins – The lack of B12 vitamin increases the chances of peripheral neuropathy.
• Physical factors – People with high body mass/obesity have higher risks of developing neuropathy of the nerves.

Importance of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Neuropathy Treatment

Stem cells are an excellent treatment option for restoring the axonal myelin sheath (protective layers of the nerves, accelerating blood vessel formation, and managing the immune system.

Patients with peripheral neuropathy were treated with mesenchymal stem cells during the subacute period to determine the functions of the nerve-muscle tissues.

This treatment measures the allodynia with a cold plate for a specified timeline.

Once this phase is over, electrophysiological and histopathological tests are performed to check the abilities of the isolated nerve-muscle tissues.

MSCs have cytokines and RNA that promote nerve regeneration and reduce inflammation.

Most importantly, more than 80% of patients treated with stem cell therapy highlight an improvement in their neuropathic conditions.

Benefits of Treating Neuropathy with Stem Cells

Stem cell therapy for neuropathy has the potential to repair damaged nerve cells, differentiate between cell types, and regenerate new cells. This naturally activates the body’s ability to self-heal with neuro-regenerative and protective factors.

Stem cell therapy for peripheral and diabetic neuropathy benefits entail –

• Recovery of nerve functions
• Repair of damaged nerves
• Permanent elimination of nerve damage causes
• Long-lasting results and quick recovery time
• Free from cell rejection
• No chances of allergies due to fresh and toxin-free stem cells sourced from the best-quality human umbilical cord
• Safest treatment with zero side effects
• Painless administration method (Non-surgical)