Ulcerative Colitis Therapy with Stem Cells in Turkey

By advancement, ULCERATIVE COLITIS disease can be slowed, even regressed, and possibly it can be stopped entirely with the help of stem cells. The therapy's success factor implies that it is reliant and related to the duration of the disease, the patient's current state, and, most importantly, the patient's age.

●    The use of stem cells to treat ULCERATIVE COLITIS is acknowledged as a new therapy that scientists are working on.

●    The new method of therapy for ULCERATIVE COLITIS by stem cells that scientists have been working on is now recognized as a new method.

●    ​​​​​​​The primary source of the stem cells is the obtained bone marrow, the adipose tissue, and the structure that can be observed when eggs and sperm are fertilized, known as Fetal. A minimal amount of adipose tissue is taken as a sample from the patient by the liposuction method under OR conditions, and they are later separated in laboratories approved by the Ministry of Health.

Stem cells obtained from the patient's tissues can be administered by directly injecting into the tissue or the organ or by vascular access. Post-procedure success rates are around 90%, accompanied by the appropriate method to administer the therapy after the patient passes the standard testing and analysis stage.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative Colitis, often known as inflammatory bowel disease, is a long-term, chronic digestive condition. Depending on the severity of the condition, changes occur in the layer covering the inner wall of the digestive tract during the course of the disease. The inflammatory response (inflammation) is the cause of these alterations. This inflammatory reaction mostly affects the intestine's inner surface and is characterized by ulceration, swelling, damage, bleeding, and irritation in the layer (mucosa) that covers the inner wall of the intestine.

Ulcers form in the mucosa, which is the coating layer covering the inner surface of the gut, in the area of inflammatory changes, and this is why the condition is named ulcerative colitis, which means sickness marked by ulcers.

The rectum and left colon (the last segment of the large intestine) are the most affected in the large intestine (bowel). Other portions of the digestive tract (the intestinal tract) are unaffected (for example, the stomach and small intestine).

Inflammatory bowel illness is classified into two types: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Aside from this, there is a third kind of this disease that is not related to either of the first two.

What are the symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a condition that only affects the large intestine. Different names are given to the disease-affected place. As a result, several names referring to the intestinal part affected by the disease are used, which signifies the same as inflammatory bowel disease.

Colitis is an abbreviation for large intestine involvement. Furthermore, involvement of the entire colon is referred to as pancolitis; involvement of merely the descending colon is referred to as left colitis; and involvement of the last part of the rectum, the last part of the large intestine, is referred to as proctitis. A patient's complaints differ depending on the location of the ailment.

Throughout the course of ulcerative colitis disease, a patient may develop difficulties involving organs other than the digestive tract as well as problems involving the digestive tract.

Ulcerative colitis is also characterized by the region affected by the disease. It is called local (regional) involvement if it is just connected to the digestive - intestinal tract; systemic (extraintestinal) involvement if it is related to other organs in the body other than the intestinal tract or the entire body.

Local Complications

●    ​​​​​​​The most common complications of the condition are severe bleeding from deep ulcers, intestinal perforation, dilation of the gut, and cessation of bowel motions (toxic megacolon, toxic dilatation). Toxic megacolon is the most dangerous of these local problems.

●    ​​​​​​​This consequence is predicted by the sudden development of significant abdominal enlargement, fever, constipation, and overall impairment. Because the inflammation affects the entire large intestinal wall, the large intestine becomes thinner, dilated, and may even be perforated.

Systemic (extra-intestinal) effects

Extra-intestinal Findings:

Substances released as a result of the disease damage distant organs as well. Some of the key symptoms are fever, weight loss, weakness, and decreased appetite. Some patients, though to a lesser extent, have joint, skin, eye, and liver issues.

Ulcerative Colitis Joint Findings:

It causes joint inflammation in the distal (end) joints. The lower section of the spine and pelvic joints (the sacroiliac joint) are impaired in certain people. Small joints in the fingers, hands, feet, wrists, and knees are the most impacted. Ankylosing spondylitis is the more severe kind that damages the joint spaces of the spine.

Ulcerative Colitis Skin Findings:

Red swelling under the skin may develop. These are nodules sensitive to depression on the skin.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum:

Purulent skin wounds with deep ulcers are common. This settles in the same places. The final cutaneous manifestation is painful surface ulcers in the mouth, known as aphthous stomatitis. It is frequently found between the lower lip and gums, on both sides of the tongue, and at the base of the tongue, and all three problems resolve when the sickness in the gut heals.

Ulcerative Colitis Eye Findings:

Some patients suffer from uveitis, a painful inflammation in the eye. This improves when the bowel symptoms improve.

Ulcerative Colitis Liver Findings:

Inflammatory alterations (inflammation) in the liver and biliary tract are possible. The resolution of intestinal inflammation helps liver inflammation, although sclerosing cholangitis affecting bile ducts does not. Biliary tract carcinoma is quite rare.

Causes of Ulcerative Colitis

The specific cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, but there have been speculations in recent years that it is an immune system illness. The disorder could be inherited. A child with ulcerative colitis in his or her family, for example, has a higher risk of developing the condition than children from healthy families.

It is not a transmissible illness. Smoking and alcohol consumption are regarded to be particularly effective environmental influences. Aspirin, antibiotics, and contraception pills can all worsen the condition. Other ideas propose that a virus or bacteria (microbe) causes immune system-related processes (immunological) in the gut wall.

Therapy of Ulcerative Colitis

There is no medication that can entirely cure the condition. Oral tablets, enema, or suppositories delivered into the intestine from the anus are popular therapys. Early therapy withdrawal may aggravate the condition. As a result, the therapy should be regarded as a long-term (lifetime) therapy. A recurrence of the condition will thus be avoided. Only surgical removal of the intestine allows for total disease eradication.

Therapy of Ulcerative Colitis with Stem Cells

Although it is not certain that the condition is hereditary in nature, the patient can be given genetically intact stem cells derived from the fetus. Because it increases the body's defense system, stem cell therapy slows the advancement of the disease. Inflammation begins to dry up as the body's defense system strengthens. In this approach, they may be able to halt the growth of the disease, stop it completely, or cause it to regress.

The success rate of the therapy is proportional to the patient's age, disease duration, and condition. If the disease has advanced significantly, therapy may be required more than once.

Stem cells can be administered systemically via vascular access or more specifically via direct injection into the tissue or organ.

Success Rate in Therapy :

After a thorough testing and analysis stage, a suitable therapy approach delivered to an eligible patient can have a success rate of more than 91%.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is ULCERATIVE COLITIS a Genetic (Hereditary) disease?

It is said to be more prevalent in particular families. In about 20% of instances, the disease also affects first-degree relatives. However, no definitive genetic transition has been shown to date, but it is safe to claim that there is a tendency. Children with inflammatory bowel disease in both parents, for example, may be at a 36% greater risk.

How is Ulcerative Colitis diagnosed?

The doctor's appraisal and examination of the patient is the most essential diagnostic approach. Aside from the aforementioned, some tests are required for a clear diagnosis.

●    ​​​​​​​A fecal test for specific bacteria and amoeba (parasite) should be performed in particular. Because some bacteria, such as Shigella, and parasites, such as Entamoeba histolityca, can mimic the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

●    ​​​​​​​Anemia, raised levels of white blood cell height, and increased sedimentation are all visible. Bleeding causes anemia (low hemoglobin levels). The intensity of inflammation is reflected by elevated levels of white blood cells and sedimentation.

●    ​​​​​​​If a patient's symptoms point to ulcerative colitis, the mucosa (the layer that covers the lining of the large intestine) should be inspected. The doctor can directly see the layer covering the large intestine and rectum with a special device implanted through the anus and take a sample (biopsy) at the disease site to evaluate under the microscope. Other variables with signs and symptoms similar to inflammatory bowel disease can be found with this screening.

●    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​A medicinal agent analysis of the large intestine (double contrast colon radiography, barium enema) can be performed to gain insight into the kind and spread of the disease. A blood count and amoeba inspection in feces can be used to rule out other disorders with similar symptoms.

How Does Ulcerative Colitis Differ From CROHN'S disease?

Although these two diseases are commonly confused, there are critical differences between them:

The chief symptoms of ulcerative colitis include diarrhea and bloody stools. In contrast, Crohn's disease symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, weight loss and weakness, the development of a fistula between the skin, and obstruction of the small or large intestines.

Ulcerative colitis only affects the large intestine, whereas Crohn's disease can affect any part of the body, from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis affects only the superficial layer (mucosa and submucosa) of the large intestine, whereas Crohn's affects not only the superficial layer but also the entire gut.