Abstract Details

Title Complications from "Stem Cell Tourism" in Neurology

Topic Practice, Policy, and Ethics

Presentation(s) Practice, Policy, and Ethics Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 003

Objective Evaluate neurologists' experiences with stem cell tourism, assess perceived competency on stem cell therapy counseling, and quantify complications after unproven stem cell procedures.

Background

"Stem cell tourism," the practice of offering unproven cellular preparations to patients as approved therapy, is rising in the field of neurology. Both the prevalence of patient questioning regarding stem cell therapies and subsequent complications are unknown. Several documented complications from unproven stem cell interventions exist, but these reports are limited and likely not representative of the true scope of complications. There is a need to quantify the prevalence of patient questioning and reported complications, and assess how prepared neurologists are to counsel patients regarding stem cell tourism.

Design/Methods We surveyed 204 academic neurologists throughout the United States between September 2017 and October 2018. The 24-question survey queried neurologists on their experiences with patient questioning regarding stem cell tourism.

Results A large majority (89%) of respondents have been approached by patients or caregivers about stem cell treatments. Almost one-third (31%) had met with over 15 patients in appointments pertaining to stem cell treatment discussions within the last year. Only 28% of respondents reported that they felt "completely" prepared to counsel patients seeking advice on stem cell therapies. In addition, approximately 25% of respondents reported having a patient who had experienced a complication after an unproven stem cell procedure. These complications ranged from infection to death.

Conclusions The discussion on stem cells between patients and neurologists are largely present in US neurology clinics. There is an urgent unmet need to both increase and standardize the education that neurologists across the country receive on this issue. In addition, we call for the creation of a national registry so patients and providers can report complications from unproven stem cell procedures.

Authors/Disclosures
Katherine A. Julian PRESENTER	Miss Julian has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Wijdan Rai, MBBS (University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine)	Dr. Rai has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for EMD Serono. Dr. Rai has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for TG Therapeutics.
	No disclosure on file
Jaime Imitola, MD, FAAN (UConn Health MS center)	The institution of Dr. Imitola has received research support from Genentech. Dr. Imitola has a non-compensated relationship as a Board Member with National MS Society that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Imitola has a non-compensated relationship as a Committee Member with International Society for Stem Cell Research that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.

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