Clinical case 05
Marked functional improvement in spinocerebellar ataxia
man, 28 · Uzbekistan
Patient record
- Patient
- man, 28
- Country
- Uzbekistan
- Diagnosis
- hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia
- Main features before treatment
- marked incoordination, ataxic gait, impaired speech, episodes of choking on food and drink, reduced muscle tone, reduced physical endurance
- Treatment given
- an individual cell and neuroregenerative programme using autologous cell material, neurally induced cell technologies, exosome therapy and neurostimulation
- Course after treatment
- stabilisation, considerably improved speech and walking, improved coordination, muscle tone returned to normal, fewer episodes of choking and greater endurance
History
The first symptoms appeared while the patient was still young and progressed gradually.
He was troubled by marked unsteadiness on walking, impaired coordination of movement, altered speech and intermittent episodes of choking, both on liquids and on solid food.
Brain MRI showed signs of cerebellar atrophy. Neurological examination found scanning speech, static and dynamic ataxia and marked impairment on coordination testing.
There was also a positive family history: similar features of ataxia and signs of cerebellar atrophy had been seen in close relatives, consistent with the hereditary nature of the disease.
Before treatment
The patient's main problems were:
- marked ataxia and impaired balance
- an unsteady, ataxic gait
- impaired coordination and precision of movement
- scanning speech, insufficiently clear
- episodes of choking during eating and drinking
- reduced muscle tone in the limbs
- rapid fatigue and reduced physical endurance
The disease affected independent walking, the ability to converse freely and the ability to carry out his usual physical activity most of all.
The programme
A personalised cell and neuroregenerative programme was drawn up for the patient.
At the preparatory stage the patient's own biological material, including bone marrow, was collected for the subsequent preparation of an autologous cell product.
The programme included:
- autologous cell therapy
- neurally induced cell technologies
- systemic and neurally targeted components of the therapy
- exosome therapy
- a course of neurostimulation
The exact parameters of the cell products and the sequence of procedures formed part of an individual internal protocol.
Course after treatment
After the programme the patient noted marked functional improvement across several areas at once.
Disease stabilisation
One of the main results was that the previous clinical progression of the disease stopped.
The patient no longer noticed the steady deterioration he had seen before treatment. Over the follow-up period his condition became considerably more stable.
Speech
One of the most noticeable results was a considerable improvement in speech. It became substantially clearer, smoother and easier for others to understand.
Coordination and walking
Marked positive change appeared in the coordination of movement. The patient moved about far more confidently, the unsteadiness lessened, and stability and control of movement improved.
His gait became noticeably better: he walked more confidently and more freely.
Swallowing
Before treatment the patient was troubled from time to time by choking on food and liquids.
After the programme he noted a considerable reduction in the frequency of choking episodes, which made eating and drinking more comfortable.
Muscle tone
The patient noted that muscle tone in the limbs returned substantially towards normal. Movement felt more stable and better controlled.
Physical endurance
Physical endurance also increased noticeably. He was able to stay active for longer and tired less under everyday exertion.
Outcome
After the individual programme, positive change touched almost all of the patient's main functional impairments:
- the previous clinical progression of the disease stopped;
- speech improved considerably;
- coordination and control of movement improved
- his gait became considerably steadier and more confident
- episodes of choking on food and drink lessened;
- muscle tone in the limbs returned to normal
- physical endurance increased
What mattered particularly was that the improvements touched several functions at once that directly determine the patient's day-to-day independence: walking, speech, coordination, eating safely and the ability to tolerate physical exertion.
This case is described from the patient's medical records and observation over the period after the programme. No personal data is published. The course of the disease and the response to treatment differ from patient to patient.