PARKINSON'S DISEASE NEWS

5th September 2009 - New research

RETINAL STEM CELLS DISAPPEAR AFTER SURGERY FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Neurology [2009] Sep 2. [Epub ahead of print] (Farag ES, Vinters HV, Bronstein J.) Complete abstract

Retinal pigment epithelial cells have been found to disappear after being used in a form of surgery intended for use in Parkinson's Disease. For years, the use of implanted stem cells have been claimed to have the potential  to rid Parkinson's Disease. One of these means is the use of RPE (retinal pigment epithelium) cells. These cells are found in the eyes and can also produce dopamine, the substance whose deficiency causes Parkinson's Disease.

A 68-year-old man underwent surgical implantation of 325,000 RPE cells in Spheramine (gelatin microcarriers) for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. He happened to die six months after the surgery took place. This enabled the researchers to see what happened to retinal stem cells after surgical implantation. Over 99.9% of the cells had disappeared after only six months. Implanted cells simply failed to survive. A previous study using the same methods demonstrated only a moderate benefit for six months. For more details see the Complete abstract. Despite different forms of stem cell surgery now being carried out in countries around the world, there is not even one study in the entire medical literature showing that anybody has ever been rid of Parkinson's Disease by this means.  For more current news go to Parkinson's Disease News.

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Parkinson's Disease News details all significant new research, news reports, new books, and new resources concerning Parkinson's Disease and those medical disorders that often coincide with Parkinson's Disease. It is compiled from an analysis of  all newly published research, news reports, new clinical trials, all newly published books, and new web sites. A summary and analysis of the new research are provided,  as well as links to the complete abstracts and news reports.