Stem cells against early menopause
According to the preliminary results of the ROSE clinical study conducted by specialists from the University of Chicago under the leadership of Professor Ayman Al-Hendy, young women with premature menopause will be able to use their own stem cells to restore ovarian function and eliminate the symptoms of early menopause.
The ovaries produce hormones and release eggs ready for fertilization before the menopause, which usually occurs after 50 years. However, approximately 1% of women develop premature ovarian insufficiency, and in some cases this condition is diagnosed already in adolescence.
With this disease, the ovaries stop synthesizing sex hormones, menstruation and ovulation stop in a woman, which deprives her of the ability to conceive. It may also be accompanied by the development of menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis-associated fractures and early loss of cognitive function.
In total, 33 participants are planned to be included in the study. To date, 2 women have already completed a full course of therapy. Their own (autologous) mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from bone marrow, which was obtained by piercing the iliac crest. Subsequently, the cells were injected into one ovary using a laparoscopy procedure, leaving the second intact as a control. After that, the researchers carried out detailed monitoring of the women's condition, including regular blood tests, ultrasound imaging of the ovaries, assessment of the severity of menopausal symptoms using a questionnaire. In addition, a safety study of the method was conducted.
3 months after administration, both participants had a significant increase in the concentration of estrogen in the blood, and after 6 months, menstruation was restored. Ultrasound examination of the ovaries demonstrated a marked increase in the size of the ovaries subjected to the procedure compared to the control paired organs. During the entire follow-up period, the duration of which was 1 year, no complications and undesirable side effects were detected in women. The researchers hope that in the future they will be able to get pregnant.
Currently, the authors involve new participants in the study and plan to monitor their condition for a long time after the procedure.
Preliminary results of the ROSE clinical trial were presented on March 20 at the 100th Annual Congress of the Endocrinology Community ENDO 2018, held in Chicago, Illinois.
Evgenia Ryabtseva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Endocrine Society: Stem cell therapy may help reverse the effects of premature menopause, restore fertility.