By Cell Therapy Foundation on Mar 04, 2014
A recent clinical trial used injections of bone marrow [adult] stem cells called mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) to reduce pain. On average researchers found a pain reduction greater than 50 percent at 12 months. Additionally, there was less need for pain medication, improvement in function, and less need for further surgical and non-surgical spine interventions. These results were found in patients with moderate to severe discogenic low back pain.
These are very exciting findings. The results provide significant hope for a condition that has been very tough to treat.
Discogenic low back pain, a painful degenerative disc, is the most common cause of chronic low back pain. Currently there is no adequate treatment for discogenic low back pain. Both conservative and surgical treatments fall short.
These positive results pave the way for a phase III study that may be starting later this year.