HSCT in Moscow, Day by Day

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Ian Franks at the Moscow clinic

Dr. Denis Fedorenko, with his assistant Anastasia Panchenko and me on the new HSCT floor at the A.A. Maximov centre in Moscow.

What's Important Now

Doesnā€™t time fly? It seems only yesterday that I was preparing to goĀ to Moscow, yet tomorrow will be three weeks since my return.

I have written enough about my experiences at the A.A. Maximov center so, today, weā€™ll take a look at how HSCT progresses, step by step.

The following is reproduced from the Moscow clinicā€™s instruction schedule. I hope that you find it interesting.

Meals:

8.30 ā€“ 9amĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Breakfast

12pmĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Second breakfast

2pmĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Lunch

6pmĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Dinner

Steps of Treatment

Stem cells stimulationĀ ā€“ 4 days (sometimes 5-6 days, depending on the results of stem cell collections) in combination with infusion of steroids at 11am (1 dose ā€“ 200 ml liquid for 20-40 min).

Also, patient takes 1 antacid pill twice day 30 mins before food (before breakfast and before dinner).

G-CSF stimulation injections (subcutaneous) at 11 pm and 3 am.

Insertion of special catheter in neck for stem cell collection and chest X-ray control.

Collection of stem cells (for 1 or 2, sometimes 3 days), (we need to collect 2 or more million hematopoietic stem cells per kg of body weight) .

Removal of neck catheter and insertion of new catheter for chemotherapy and further treatment.

Chemotherapy (4 days).

1-2 days of rest (receiving only supportive medication infusions twice a day).

From the beginning of chemotherapy: patient takes oral medications 3 times a day (antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, PPI gastro protection).

Pills for breakfast ā€” Ā 1 antacid pill before food. Other pills ā€” after food. Pills for lunch ā€” 1 pill after food.Ā Pills for dinnerĀ ā€” 1 antacid pill before food. Other pills ā€” after food. Patient has additional oral medications on Mon, Wed, Fri ā€” co-trimoxasole (2 white big pills ā€” morning, evening). Patient has 2 supportive medication infusions in the evening.

Food Allowed during treatment: Most food from outside the hospital is suitable.

Foods to be Avoided during treatment:Ā Fresh fish, e.g., sushi, raw meat, un-pasteurised milk or milk products, see note below. Fast food outlets, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Day of transplantation.Ā Patient should avoid food after 12 pm on this day. Nurses Will clean and prepare room for transplantation.

Isolation.Ā Patient should never leave the room. Patient should keep the glass door closed. Medical staff will clean the room every day. Patient’s suitcases will be removed. Patient should heat up food (approx. 10-20 seconds) in the microwave before consuming. Patient should use a special solution for mouthwash (mix half of cup of red solution with cap of water). Patient should use provided clorhexidine solutions for washing body ā€” big bottle for genital area and small for legs/arms/body. Our staff will change bedding and wash clothing every day.

A patient must inform medical staff immediately of any problems or changes in condition.

Food Allowed during Isolation:Ā Tinned food, e.g., vegetables or tuna, Bread, Coffee, Tea, Dried fruit, Fruit Juice, Spices, herbs, Lollies/sweets, Nuts ā€” roasted and salted.Ā Processed food, e.g., muesli bars, packets of soup, noodles, Milk and Yoghurt conforming to hospital standards.

Food Restrictions during Isolation:Ā Fresh vegetables and fruits, Milk and Yoghurt products that don ‘t conform to hospital standards. Raw nuts, toasted muesli ā€” unless it is microwaved first – Fresh fish, e.g., sushi, raw meat.

Patient receives one infusion of Rituximab (for 5 hours) after recovery of leukocytes (1 or 2 days before discharge).

 

Note:Ā Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those ofĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.

 

Comments

Alberto avatar

Alberto

Ian thank you for your testimony and indications, good luck!
Alberto Leonardi MS PP

Reply
meredith avatar

meredith

Ian, for some reason, I thought your A-Fib made you an unworthy candidate for HSCT. Sounds like they gave you a heads-up.

Reply
Graham Cooper avatar

Graham Cooper

Hope all goes well for you, am hoping HSCT will be allowed in Australia soon!!!!!

Reply
Tracey Lackmann avatar

Tracey Lackmann

Ian, glad you are doing well could you pls let me know if the treatment you received in Russia was HSCT BEAM with HALt Many Thanks Tracey Lackmann at [email protected]

Reply
ken birzneck avatar

ken birzneck

i have ppms , diagnosed in 2005 wheelchair 2006 , i am now very disabled 6.5 edss , could this therapy hsct stop my ppms and reverse it ?
thank you

Reply
 avatar

Hi Ken, I am not in a position to give you medical advice but I do know that, at 6.5 edss, you are at, or close to, the top end of the acceptable scale. You say you use a wheelchair but are you totally dependent on it? When I went to Moscow's HSCT clinic, I had to prove I was able to walk (using a cane) a few yards. I know PPMS patients who have successfully had the treatment but would emphasise that its aim is to stop progression and improve quality of life. There are no claims that it can reverse the disease although remarkable improvements have been reported, mainly by those who had RRMS.

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ken birzneck avatar

ken birzneck

thanks for your time , im totally dependent on my powerchair , probably closer to 7.7 on edss , def cannot walk or get out of the chair , but i appreciate your help and i hope you have further success...
good luck
ken

Reply
Shabban avatar

Shabban

Can somebody please give me contact number AA. Maximov hospital

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