Doctors repair skin of boy dying from ‘butterfly’ disease
Scientists had to replace 80 percent of his skin
Tina Hesman Saey
Dec 5, 2017 — 7:12 am EST
In a last-ditch effort to save a dying 7-year-old boy, scientists have used stem cells and gene therapy to replace about 80 percent of his skin. The effort showed that this combination therapy may be effective against some rare genetic skin disorders.
The case is a landmark in stem-cell therapy, says Elaine Fuchs. She is a stem-cell researcher at Rockefeller University in New York City and not involved in the boy’s treatment. His case also may settle questions about how the skin renews itself, she adds.
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/doctors-repair-skin-boy-dying-butterfly-disease
