Stem Cell Therapy Could Treat Perianal Crohn's Disease

Posted on: 2 January 2020

Stem cell therapy might show some promise in treating inflammatory bowel disease in a way that is more effective than conventional treatment methods. Stem cell therapy has specifically been found to be useful when treating perianal Crohn's disease, which is a form of the disease that affects the anus.

How Stem Cells Affect the Body

The reason why stem cell therapy shows promise in treating Crohn's disease and so many other conditions is that stem cells are able to transform into other types of healthy cells. The healthy cells can be used to replace diseased cells. Stem cells can also travel to the area of the inflammation and release proteins that cause your body's own cells to restore balance in the immune system.

The potential treatment benefits of stem cells were discovered when patients who suffered from cancer and Crohn's disease received a stem cell treatment. The patients would often discover that the symptoms of their Crohn's disease would subside as well. 

Stem Cells and the Immune System

One of the advantages of stem cell therapy is that it can reset the immune system so that a patient can use medications that stopped working as the disease progressed. While it cannot cure Crohn's disease, it can make the symptoms less severe. Stem cell therapy is especially beneficial when combined with changes in diet, healthier sleeping habits, and better sleep.

Perianal Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease most often affects the small intestines and part of the large intestine. However, a third of those suffering from Crohn's disease can also see their anus affected. If you are suffering from perianal Crohn's disease, you will experience anal bleeding, pain, and itching around the anus. Nobody knows what causes this condition. Experts believe that the condition might partially arise as a result of genetics and the environment. For example, if you are a smoker, you are more likely to develop this disease.

Serious Complications

This type of inflammatory bowel disease can cause very severe consequences. In some cases, the bowels can become so damaged from the inflammation that parts of the bowels need to be removed. Removing the damaged parts of the bowels can lead to the symptoms becoming less severe or disappearing altogether. However, the condition can return to other parts of the GI tract. Because of the struggles that Crohn's disease can bring, stem cell therapy treatment can possibly lead to promising benefits.

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