Posted on 10/24/2009 2:00:36 PM PDT by Steelfish
Gene Therapy Transforms Eyesight Of 12 People With Rare Visual Defect
A single injection in a patient's eye brings 'astounding' results. The findings may offer hope for those with macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
Thomas H. Maugh II October 24, 2009
Pennsylvania researchers using gene therapy have made significant improvements in vision in 12 patients with a rare inherited visual defect, a finding that suggests it may be possible to produce similar improvements in a much larger number of patients with retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.
The team last year reported success with three adult patients, an achievement that was hailed as a major accomplishment for gene therapy. They have now treated an additional nine patients, including five children, and find that the best results are achieved in the youngest patients, whose defective retinal cells have not had time to die off.
The youngest patient, 9-year-old Corey Haas, was considered legally blind before the treatment began. He was confined largely to his house and driveway when playing, had immense difficulties in navigating an obstacle course and required special enlarging equipment for books and help in the classroom.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
REMARKABLE!
So is this the result of embryonic stem cell research? I’m betting no.
Looks good to me.
This is a great story. I help moderate a yahoo group about kids with hearing loss. A couple parents have kids who are deaf AND going blind. One of the moms has several kids (close in age) in the same situation. I sent them this link. Thank you for posting it.
Thanks Steelfish.
wow
cloned cells
Merry10, your FR homepage is not very merry.
thanks, bfl
you are correct. I should clean it up.
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