StemCell Therapy

HSCT veterans, current patients, and the doctors and staff of the A.A. Maximov center in Moscow are in shock as they grieve and mourn the loss of a stem cell sister.

Sadly, Kristen Dyson, who had been giving updates of her progress on Facebook, suffered a serious and rare reaction after her first day of stem cell infusion, following chemotherapy.

Several days later, after valiant efforts of doctors and nurses in intensive care, Kristen, of Nichol Hills, Oklahoma, U.S., died.

I spent almost a week at the center six months ago, and have first-hand experience of the great care given by the medical team. I also benefited from the wonderful family spirit enjoyed by both the team and those going through the treatment.

Head of the centers transplant procedure is Denis Fedorenko, MD, and when we spoke this week he talked movingly about what happened.

He said: Everyone here is full of sorrow and we are all grieving for Kristen. Everyone who has HSCT here is a friend, not a patient. We have lost a friend, a sister.

Kristen is in our thoughts at this sad time, as is her family husband Bryan, son Brayden and daughter Brooklyn, Fedorenko said.

I asked about Kristens illness and he said Kristen had relapsing MS that was diagnosed in 2003, but it had since developed into secondary progressive. She had been treated with interferon and Gilenya, but the disease was progressing quickly. Her disability had worsened from 5.5 to 6.5 on the EDSS scale. She had no other health problems.

So, what happened? Fedorenko explained: The first indication of any problem was after her first day of stem cell infusion (when her own stem cells were being returned after chemotherapy). Despite days of intensive care, the toxic effect of chemotherapy is thought to have provoked an irreversible, progressive heart reaction.

In more than 700 stem cell transplants we have carried out since 2005, this was our first case of a heart reaction. We are devastated and Kristens passing has led us improve our safety protocols. Starting this week, we are implementing an additional new protocol to evaluate the heart both before and after chemotherapy, he said.

What really impresses me, though, is that since Kristin died, five people in the center decided to continue with their stem cell infusions. Their stem cell new life birthday was yesterday (April 11), when they first paid tribute to their lost sister.

I am sure you want to know how many people with MS who have had HSCT in Moscow have died. Well, including Kristin, the answer is two. Thats two out of 700, or less than 0.3%, in 12 years.

Fedorenko wouldnt discuss that figure, however. I dont want to talk about the low percentage. Kristins death is a tragedy. We are all friends and she is already missed here, at home and around the world, he said.

I cant finish this column without expressing my own sadness and sympathies for Kristins loss to her husband Bryan, their children and family members. Also, to Dr. Fedorenko and all the team in Moscow, and members of the HSCT community worldwide. My thoughts are with you all.

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[You are invited to visit my personal MS, Health & Disability website at 50shadesofsun.com].

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Mourning Loss of Stem Cell Sister in Moscow HSCT Center - Multiple Sclerosis News Today

This entry was posted on April 13, 2017 at 9:42 pm and is filed under Death by Stem Cells. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |