Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: the glass seems to be half full for aggressive, early forms of MS and half empty for advanced MS

Abstract

Sir, We would like to respond to the above submitted correspondence by Nash et al. on our article ‘Autologous stem cell transplantation fails to stop demyelination and neurodegeneration’. Both Nash et al. and we seem to agree that HSCT might be an effective therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the so-called inflammatory stage of the disease. These patients appear to benefit from the intense immunosuppression and the reprogramming of their immune system (Muraro et al. , 2003; Martin, 2007). The benefit for these patients has been clinically shown and is documented in MRI studies. Thus the most promising MS population for a therapy study with HSCT might be patients in early disease stages with an aggressive disease course who do not …