What Is HSCT?

What is HSCT for MS is a question we are regularly asked. Even now, it’s still something many people haven’t come across, although it’s been around for a lot longer than you might realise. HSCT (also known as BMT, AHSCT or simply ASCT) stands for Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. HSCT should not be confused with ‘Stem Cell Therapy’ or ‘Stem Cell Treatment’.

HSCT has been used to treat MS for over 20 years now. Moreover, it was already a well-established treatment, having been performed 2 million times since 1959, when the first ever bone marrow transplant took place. It is currently performed over 50,000 times every year for cancer, and more than 3,000 patients have had HSCT for MS to date.