Parkinson's Disease Treatment in XCell-Center

Most Parkinson's patients at the X-Cell Center are treated by lumbar puncture: stem cells are injected into the cerebrospinal fluid that transports the cells into the brain. A new procedure is also available, by which stem cells are surgically implanted into the brain.

Bone Marrow Collection

On the first day of hospitalization, bone marrow is collected from the patient's hip bone, under local anesthesia. Although there is some pain when the needle is inserted, most patients do not find the procedure painful. The bone marrow collection takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Laboratory Processing

The following day, the stem cells are processed in a government approved, state-of-the-art (cGMP) laboratory. Both the quantity and quality of the stem cells is checked.

Stem Cell Implantation

On the third day of the patient’s stay, the stem cells are implanted into the patient either by a lumbar puncture or by surgical implantation.

Lumbar Puncture

A special spinal needle is inserted between the L4 and L5 vertebrae. A small amount of spinal fluid is taken. Some of that spinal fluid is then mixed with a stem cell solution and then injected into back into the patient's spinal fluid. After the implantation, the patient lies in the recovery room for a number of hours before going back to his or her hotel room.

Surgical Implantation

Some patients undergo surgical implantation instead of a lumbar puncture. Before surgery, physical and functional damage is assessed by CT (computer tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and by PET scan (positron emission tomography). Once the affected regions of the brain have been mapped, the neurosurgeon will carefully implant the stem cells using a navigation system that allows the stem cells to be position with very high accuracy. Surgical implantation procedures are done under general anesthesia.