The Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) has approved the use of stem cell therapy in the treatment of Crohn's disease, as reported by Diário da Região, from São José do Rio Preto. This decision represents a significant advance in the treatment of this chronic intestinal condition.

This study was conducted by hematologist Milton Ruiz and proctologist Roberto Luiz Kaiser Júnior at the Beneficência Portuguesa hospital in Rio Preto. It paved the way for the inclusion of stem cell transplantation for the treatment of Crohn's disease, which causes chronic intestinal inflammation and has no cure. Milton Ruiz, a hematologist, performed 71 of the 80 procedures documented in the country in Rio Preto.


This month, the technical chamber of hematology of the Federal Council of Medicine issued a favorable opinion on including the procedure in the list of treatments authorized in medical practice. Since 2013, the transplant has been performed as an experimental procedure within clinical research protocols.


The use of stem cells offers new hope to patients, since these cells have the capacity to regenerate damaged tissues. This can lead to reduced symptoms and improved quality of life. It is important to note that this approval highlights the continued importance of medical research and the development of new treatment options.


And how does stem cell transplantation work?


Hematopoietic (blood-producing) stem cells are harvested from the patient's own bone marrow. The stem cells are able to produce antibodies that do not attack the intestine, which is why they are reintroduced into the patient to replace the diseased cells.


However, it is essential to emphasize that stem cell treatment must be carried out under medical supervision, as each case is unique. This news is an example of how medicine is evolving to offer more effective solutions for challenging medical conditions.


Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. It predominantly affects the lower part of the small intestine and the large intestine, but it can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is chronic and probably caused by dysregulation of the immune system, that is, the body's defense system.


The main symptoms are: arthritis, canker sores and mouth ulcers, abdominal pain, fever, fatigue, weight and appetite loss, diarrhea, cramps, bloody stools, weakness, eye symptoms and perianal disease.