Chapter 21, Problem 1CCS

52-Year-Old Male with Multiple Sclerosis

Mr. Ayers was diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis 18 years ago. His illness has not responded to conventional treatments so he's been referred to your clinic for a clinical trial.

The doctor explains that his treatment will involve giving Mr. Ayers a drug that will release stem cells from his bone marrow so they can be collected from his blood. Then Mr. Ayers will be given (1) drugs that will destroy the blood-forming cells in his bone marrow, and (2), antibodies against his T lymphocytes. Finally, the stem cells that were collected from him will be used to repopulate his bone marrow.

The doctor says, “This treatment avoids problems, such as transplant rejection, that are associated with other kinds of transplants.”

1. In organ transplantation, the transplanted organ is called a graft. What type of graft would it be if Mr. Ayers received someone else’s bone marrow? What type would it be if he receives his own bone marrow?