Sharing with others


Patient testimonial – Bruno G – June 14, 2021

The results of my mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) allograft are completely positive, even better than I had hoped. I think it is time for me to share the story of the allograft I was lucky enough to receive and how I am feeling today. The protocol that started in June 2019 will be finished in 2 months.
I am a retired, 64-year-old married man with three children. My passion was competitive sports (cycling in regional competitions). I had a healthy lifestyle, with no alcohol or tobacco, and was in perfect health. My scleroderma was diagnosed in 1989, after a power outage, when lightning struck a power station at the Electric Company.
This disease called Systemic Sclerosis has been my permanent companion for 32 long years, with many ups and downs. My psychological battle with the disease was replaced by acceptance in 2013. I decided to dare to refuse its fatality, that was my new state of mind. I have Raynaud’s syndrome, atrophy of the hands as well as esophageal, pulmonary and cardiac involvement.
To be able to participate in the MSC protocol, I stopped immunosuppressive therapy in June 2019 and have not taken it since.
The benefits of the allograft: My skin elasticity has clearly improved, so that I can now swim a little breast stroke in the pool (which was impossible before), can open my mouth more easily, am less tired (1 hour of exercise bike per day (fall, winter, and spring)), can garden and walk 3, 6 or even 7 kms. My general condition has also improved, although I must take a nap now and then. At the same time, there are still many things I am unable to do, like putting on my compression socks, for example. I can still feel the immediate improvements that I had from the stem cell injections, today, but then, my wife’s harvested cells were numerous and of good quality.
The protocol was performed by the team at the APHP St Louis Hospital, headed by Professor FARGE. There was also a local support team (because of Covid 19) at Montpelier St Eloi University Hospital headed by Dr. Alexandre MARIA in liaison with Paris.
I would like to take this occasion to sincerely thank them on behalf of my wife (my bone marrow donor), my daughters who have been at my side and shared my improvement, and myself, the lucky beneficiary of this treatment. I am also deeply grateful to Dr Sophie RIVIÈRE who made all of this possible, and who has always been extremely attentive, ever since 2009 when I began being followed in the Medical Unit in Montpellier. Especially since I am not any easy patient, and all of my hospital stays are extremely difficult for me to deal with. And finally, I would like to thank my wonderful wife who has managed some difficult situations, and has always been at my side. I would also like to extend my thanks to ASF (French Scleroderma Association) for its financial investment in medical research, in particular in the field of rare diseases, and for all of the work and efforts of the local and national members of the association. I have been a proud member of the ASF for the past few years.

Patient testimonial – Myriam F – May 31, 2019

Hello. Three months after my mesenchymal stem cell allograft, I would like to share my experience. I am a woman with a positive attitude, who has kept looking forward, and has always tried to do what needs to be done to limit the consequences of my disease.
I have had systemic Sclerosis since 2000. The skin is affected over my entire body, as well as all of my joints, with more or less severe limitations. My joints are painful, with calcific tendinitis (including the elbow which is blocked at 10% of mobility), my fingers are significantly retracted, and there is moderate oesophageal and pulmonary involvement. I require help to do most activities (bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning etc). Because the different medications I was prescribed did not help, I only take paracetamol and an anti-acid when needed. Needless to say I was tempted by the proposition of this allograft despite many hesitations… So, at the beginning of February, with no particular problems or side effects, I received an intravenous infusion of cultured stem cells from my 26-year-old daughter for 1 hour. The next day, my hands were warm all day long, which was something unusual enough for me to notice, and the next day, the doctors confirmed that my skin elasticity had already improved.
That day I returned home, feeling a little lost in the face of these incredibly rapid improvements…
In fact, I felt as if I had finally been freed from a straightjacket. Obviously my joint movements were still limited, but I could move much more easily and rapidly, without pain!!!
After that I developed new muscle and tendon pains, because I was moving more and my muscles and tendons, which had been atrophied for 18 years, were reminding me of this… like anyone who starts playing sports again. Today, my body is stronger and the pain is gone so that I no longer need to take pain killers. And the icing on the cake is that the fatigue is gone. Before the transplantation EVERYTHING was an effort…And also I can now recognize myself again in the mirror, which is a great pleasure for a woman.
I would like to mention the following, because this could make certain patients hesitate to try this procedure. Since I live far from Paris, I was asked to agree to travel by plane, with transfer to airports in national health service-approved taxis, thus, I didn’t have to pay any of the travel costs. And since I am not autonomous, I travel on AIR FRANCE and am assisted. They pick me up with a wheelchair and manage my baggage. In this way I was able to travel alone, with no problem.
I would like to conclude by mentioning the kindness and availability of the entire medical team at the Internal Medicine Unit of the Hopital St Louis. They always answered all my questions, and there were many of them !!!!!
For the first time, I have a bit of hope that this treatment will be effective, I am more and more convinced that these stem cells will be the key to combating our defective cells, and I wish the best of luck to Pr FARGE and his team !!!

Patient Testimonial – Eric S – August 27, 2018

Three years after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant for systemic sclerosis

I was a person who was passionate about sports and life.

On January 6, 2014 I was admitted to emergency for a pulmonary infection and a bilateral pleurisy. Other attacks soon followed …

In June 2014, I was diagnosis with severe systemic sclerosis.

On October 5, 2014, I met Professor Farge from St Louis Hospital in Paris to sign-up for the autologous stem cell transplant program. I felt and knew this was my one chance. I am here to express my gratitude to the Saint-Louis team.

I could no longer walk, my body knew only suffering, like being entombed in a sarcophagus. Every breath required intense effort. At the height of my illness, I had a Rodnan’s score of 42. My organ involvement was complete (pulmonary, digestive, cardiac, and cutaneous). My hands were like those of a playmobil figurine, with finger ulcerations.

On November 4, 2014, I returned to Pr. Farge’s department at St. Louis Hospital to begin the autologous stem cell transplant treatment. The first step was to harvest my stem cells.

On December 26, 2014, I returned to St Louis Hospital in the hematology transplant department to receive a transplant of my own stem cells.

After the autograft, which was a very difficult experience, I was able to go home and start an intensive rehabilitation. I had to relearn everything, including to walk and grasp objects, but the important thing was that I was alive and with my family. In time, I gradually began to play sports again, always with objective of correcting my handicaps.

Today my skin has returned to normal, and I have a Rodnan score of 0. I was able to put my wedding ring back on without having to change the size. During my first stay in intensive care, my hands were so swollen that my ring had to be removed. A nurse with a lot of patience and experience removed it without having to cut it, but it was impossible for me to put it back on. Today I can put it on and remove it as easily as I did before.

I am here thanks to this precious gift from the entire St-Louis team. Thank you for this second lease on life and what better testimony than a little video showing what I am capable of now.

Eric S


Testimonial from patient – Eric L – January 12, 2017

Hello,

Since 2012, I have had severe systemic sclerosis (affected kidneys, lungs, heart and digestive system). After several months of difficult treatments with Endoxan and Myfortic, I was fortunate to benefit from a donor mesenchymal stem cell transplant treatment in the internal medicine department of Saint Louis Hospital in November 2016.
Very quickly I felt an improvement in skin flexibility, especially on the face and hands. For many months the impact of the disease had been very problematic, particularly the effects on the face, with occasional periods of severe acne breakouts that were very debilitating because of the stares – which were difficult to bear. I take Tétralysal which inhibits those unsightly, and painful, pimples. At the same time I hydrate my skin (face and body) with a dry oil (Monoi Florescence) from Lea nature that I find in supermarkets (8 €) or on the website. This oil is very effective, it makes the skin soft and penetrates immediately. The whole family has begun to use it. Be careful, it does not protect from the sun. I use it morning and evening, and I saw a clear before and after change.

I was fortunate to be surrounded by medical and paramedical teams who were very professional and attentive.
I try to keep up with my daily activities and time for recreation while reserving moments of rest, both in the morning and in the early afternoon.
I try not to think of myself as sick but as a full individual even if sometimes it is difficult. I wish you all a happy 2017 New Year. Let us not forget to plan projects but also that ensure that every day there is a small moment of joy in the present, that before the disease we took for granted and which today represents happiness.

E. L