OVER five million sickle cell patients in Nigeria
and other African countries can now heave a sigh of relief
as the University of Ibadan in partnership with the
University of Illinois, Chicago, USA and University of
Loyola, Chicago have discovered a permanent cure for the
terminal disease.
The cure of the deadly disease, according to the Professor
of Medicine, Victor Gordeuk, who is the Director, Sickle
Cell Centre, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA and his
colleagues, Prof. Damiano Rondelli, also from the same
university and Prof. Bamidele Tayo, University of Loyola,
Chicago this new treatment is done through bone marrow
transplant and that it is less risky.
This was revealed yesterday at the University College
Hospital, Ibadan after a three-day brainstorming session
with other experts in the teaching hospital.
Unlike the other conventional method of stem cell
transplant which exposes patients to radiation which could
cause cancer, first blood and marrow stem cell transplant,
BMT, is much more effective.
The experts who were flanked by the Chief Medical
Director, UCH, Prof. Temitope Alonge, Dr. Titilola
Akingbola, an haematologist and Dr. Foluke Fasola, said
this stem cell transplant is a standard procedure for the
treatment of many blood cancers in both adult and children.
He said: “With this chemotherapy-free transplant, we are
curing adults with sickle cell disease, and we see that their
quality of life improves fast within just one month of the
transplant.
“About 90 per cent of the approximately 450 patients who
have received stem cell transplants for sickle cell disease
have been children. Chemotherapy has been considered too
risky for adult patients, who are often more weakened than
children by the disease.
“Adults with sickle cell disease can now be cured without
chemotherapy — the main barrier that has stood in the way
for them for so long. Our data provide more support that
this therapy is safe and effective and prevents patients from
living shortened lives, condemned to pain and progressive
complications.”
“In the new procedure, patients receive immuno-
suppressive drugs just before the transplant, along with a
very low dose of total body irradiation, a treatment much
less harsh and with fewer potentially serious side effects
than chemotherapy.”
“ Donor cells from a healthy and tissue-matched sibling are
transfused into the patient. Stem cells from the donor
produce healthy new blood cells in the patient, eventually
in sufficient quantity to eliminate symptoms. In many
cases, sickle cells can no longer be detected. Patients must
continue to take immunosuppressant drugs for at least a
year.
The CMD, Prof. Alonge who called for support from
government, philanthropists, donour agencies and corporate
bodies like banks and Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation for provision of equipment and completion of
the sickle cell centre, described sickle cell as a disease of
bone crisis which the patient suffers from head to toe.
He added that Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic disorder due
to the presence of an abnormal form of haemoglobin in the
red blood cells, called haemoglobin S (Hb S) instead of
haemoglobin A (Hb A). Haemoglobin in the red blood cell
is responsible for the transportation of oxygen in the body.


Source; www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/uch-usa-varsities-discover-cure-for-sickle-cell-anaemia/

Wow

This is good news for all people with SS. Not so good news for big pharma though!

To God be the glory.

Don't even start
This is a very ill informed reporter.
Bone marrow transplant has always been done for children .though it's very expensive, it's being done in UBTH(1st in west Africa). The chemotherapy that's even talked about is hydroxyurea which is long been in use in same UBTH Benin city to manage acute chest syndrome (a complication of sickle cell disease) and not to cure.
The procedure has its risks as well
This article is capable of making love struck (AS+AS) persons ,marry themselves hence my verdict is; zero knowledge is better than half knowledge