A new clinical trial conducted by Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital and Seoul National University found that the stem cells in umbilical cords (mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs) could be used as a treatment for eczema. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a condition that results in dry, itchy red rashes on the skin and it can be extremely difficult to treat.
The study showed promising results. The Eczema Area and Severity Index, or EASI, score is used to determine the extent and severity of atopic dermatitis. The study showed that at week 12, of the patients who received a high dose of MSCs, 55% showed a 50% reduction in the EASI score.
The senior author of the study, Dr. Tae-Yoon Kim, said “this study is a first-in-class study demonstrating that adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis responded to a treatment of stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. The single treatment of stem cells in patients resulted in the significant and persistent improvement in disease symptoms throughout the follow-up period of 12 weeks”