"Having exhausted the conventional treatments, we had to consider therapies which are still under investigation but look promising, like autologous bone marrow transplant," said Dr.Tilford. "It's a serious procedure but one we hope improves Mollie's condition."
"Mollie is a true pioneer for other children with autoimmune diseases. If this proves to be successful in treating her disease, it will open up the door for many more children to also obtain relief," said Theodore Moore, M.D., assistant professor of pediatric hematology/oncology and director of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program at Doernbecher.
The treatment protocol that will be used on Mollie was developed in Holland and has shown great promise.
"Of the thousands of children I have seen with arthritis, Mollie's arthritis is definitely in the worst 1 percent. If anything is going to keep her from having totally destroyed joints, it will be the transplant," said David Sherry, M.D., Mollie's rheumatologist at Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center in Seattle.
The treatment is expected to begin around the end of September. Mollie will first have some stem cells removed then she will undergo extensive chemotherapy to kill her defective immune system. Approximately 10 days later her stem cells will be re-infused into her system with the hope that they will produce a new healthy, strong immune system.
If the bone marrow transplant is successful, Mollie will be able to play free of pain with her brother and two sisters and finally go back to school. At 3-foot-2-inches, Mollie's dream following the transplant is to grow to the height of other kids her age and be tall enough to go on roller coasters and other rides.
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Contact: Christine Long
longc@ohsu.edu
503-494-8231
Oregon Health & Science University
26-Aug-1999