What is an autoimmune disease?
There are over 80 known autoimmune diseases, including type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Not all autoimmune diseases can be treated with a stem cell transplant, but they can help people with conditions such as systemic sclerosis and multiple sclerosis (MS).
You can find out more about autoimmune diseases on The Autoimmune Association website.
Autoimmune diseases and stem cell transplants
A stem cell transplant would only be offered as an alternative treatment if other options have been unsuccessful or if your symptoms are becoming unmanageable.
It will likely be an autologous transplant – when doctors use your own stem cells. Some conditions can be treated with an allogeneic transplant – where new stem cells are donated from an unrelated donor, but this is rare.
In 2022, 79 patients had a stem cell transplant for autoimmune diseases in the UK.
Last updated: 03/04/2024
Next review due: 03/04/2025