An unexpected result was brought by stem cell paralysis treatment for a US resident. Eight years later, the woman was horrified to find that a nose had grown on her spine.
Eight years after the failed stem cell treatment for paralysis on her back, the patient's nose grew. The woman, who is a US citizen, was being treated at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. During the procedure, doctors implanted tissue from the nose into her spine.
Doctors hoped that nerve tissues would begin to form from the cells, with the help of which it would be possible to restore the damaged nerve, but the treatment did not bring any result. An unexpected side effect appeared last year, eight years after the operation. The patient began to complain of back pain.
As a result of the examination, the doctors discovered a tumor three centimeters long, which, as it turned out, mainly consisted of nasal tissue, as well as cartilage and nerve branches that were not associated with the spinal canal. As stated by the neurosurgeon who performed the operation to remove the tumor, it was benign.
During the procedure, the surgeons were consulted by Jean Peduzzi-Nelson, a researcher at Wayne University in Detroit, Michigan who specializes in stem cell work. The scientist notes that in most patients, after an unsuccessful nasal tissue transplant, their condition improved significantly after a properly selected rehabilitation course.
"I was saddened when I learned about this bad experience, however, such cases occur in less than 1% of cases," - said the scientist.
Note that in 2010, researchers from Lisbon published the results of using the technique that was used on an American woman. It has been reported to have been tested on 20 patients. After the procedure, 11 patients showed partial recovery of motor function or sensitivity; in one, the condition worsened, another volunteer developed meningitis, and four others experienced minor side effects.