We separate systemic sclerosis, morphea, HSCT, and MSCs clearly
Stem cell therapy for scleroderma in Istanbul, Turkey
Our Istanbul team explains the real difference between selected autologous HSCT evidence and unproven generic MSC claims for scleroderma.
Condition-specific editorial anatomy. Explanatory labels remain in accessible text.
Direct answer
What the current evidence says
The term stem cell therapy can be dangerously imprecise in systemic sclerosis, and we won't blur that line. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an intensive immune-reset procedure with evidence for carefully selected patients with early, severe diffuse cutaneous disease — it is not a one-day umbilical cord MSC infusion. We're clear that generic MSC or exosome therapy has not been shown to prevent organ damage or reverse fibrosis. Request your free medical evaluation for an honest review of what applies to you.
Clinical map
Start with the diagnosis, stage, and treatment context
Eligibility depends on disease severity and cardiopulmonary risk, and we place any transplant discussion in an experienced transplant and systemic-sclerosis program.
Established care comes first
- Organ-specific treatment: We coordinate mycophenolate, nintedanib, vasodilator therapy, and other guideline options by organ.
- Surveillance: We track pulmonary function, echocardiography, kidney function, and skin score over time.
- Specialist HSCT selection: We only consider autologous HSCT after multidisciplinary comparison with non-transplant care and a full risk assessment.
- 01
Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis
Rapid skin progression and internal-organ risk may prompt intensive immunosuppression or selected transplant evaluation.
- 02
Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
Raynaud, digital ischemia, and pulmonary risks need structured surveillance in your plan.
- 03
Morphea
Localized skin and tissue fibrosis is not systemic sclerosis and does not inherit HSCT evidence.
Evidence position
What is known, what is investigational, and what is not demonstrated
Selected HSCT pathway, unproven generic MSC claims
Systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma, or morphea, are different diseases with different evidence and risks.
HSCT is not an MSC drip
Lung, heart, and kidney assessment happens before any immunosuppressive procedure is even considered.
Heart and lung screening is non-negotiable
Results vary between patients and stem cell therapy is not a guaranteed cure — AHSCT evidence is never used to market donor MSCs or a fibrosis cure.
Product and route
A mechanism is not a clinical outcome
- 01
HSCT is not an MSC drip
The cell type, purpose, conditioning, and follow-up are fundamentally different, and we make sure you understand this before deciding anything.
BoundaryEvidence applies only to the studied product, population, dose, route, comparator, and endpoint.
- 02
Heart and lung screening is non-negotiable
Occult pulmonary hypertension or reduced cardiac reserve can make intensive therapy unsafe, so we screen carefully first.
BoundaryEvidence applies only to the studied product, population, dose, route, comparator, and endpoint.
Evidence ledger
Read the actual study, including the result that did not change
Each row keeps product identity, route, endpoint, and limitation together so one trial cannot become a generic treatment claim.
01 EULAR systemic sclerosis treatment recommendations
Open source- Product
- Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for selected severe disease
- Route
- Mobilization, conditioning chemotherapy, and autologous hematopoietic-cell reinfusion
- Design
- Evidence and expert consensus guideline update
- Finding
- HSCT is a specialist option for carefully selected patients with poor-prognosis diffuse disease.
- Limitation
- Potential benefit must be weighed against substantial treatment-related toxicity and does not validate MSC infusion.
02 Systemic sclerosis HSCT best-practice recommendations
Open source- Product
- Autologous hematopoietic stem cells
- Route
- Transplant-center protocol
- Design
- International expert recommendations for selection and delivery
- Finding
- Recommendations emphasize cardiopulmonary screening, experienced centers, and long-term follow-up.
- Limitation
- Patients with advanced cardiopulmonary disease may face unacceptable risk.
Outcomes before travel
Decide what meaningful change would look like
A baseline and a time point matter more than an isolated testimonial. These measures should be chosen before any intervention.
- 01
Modified Rodnan Skin Score
- 02
FVC, DLCO, and interstitial lung disease imaging
- 03
Pulmonary hypertension and cardiac measures
- 04
Digital ulcers, Raynaud burden, kidney and gastrointestinal outcomes
- 05
Treatment tolerance, function, and quality of life
Specialist review
What a complete Istanbul review needs
Our Istanbul team explains the real difference between selected autologous HSCT evidence and unproven generic MSC claims for scleroderma.
Records and baseline
- Systemic sclerosis subtype, duration, antibodies, and skin trajectory
- Pulmonary function, imaging, echocardiography, and cardiac testing
- Blood pressure, kidney, and digital-ulcer history
- Prior immunosuppression, response, and pregnancy plans
- Whether the proposal is AHSCT, MSC, or another product, with full protocol and outcomes
Safety and planning checks
- New breathlessness, chest pain, or critical digital ischemia always gets urgent conventional care first.
- Any transplant decision includes an independent systemic-sclerosis specialist and an accredited transplant center.
- Your Istanbul travel plan defines hospitalization, caregiver, and long-term home follow-up arrangements clearly.
Transparent planning
Build the medical plan before the package
A quote should follow record review, product disclosure, route rationale, and a written follow-up plan. This page does not invent a universal price.
- New breathlessness, chest pain, or critical digital ischemia always gets urgent conventional care first.
- Any transplant decision includes an independent systemic-sclerosis specialist and an accredited transplant center.
- Your Istanbul travel plan defines hospitalization, caregiver, and long-term home follow-up arrangements clearly.
Questions the plan must answer
- 01
HSCT is not an MSC drip: The cell type, purpose, conditioning, and follow-up are fundamentally different, and we make sure you understand this before deciding anything.
- 02
Heart and lung screening is non-negotiable: Occult pulmonary hypertension or reduced cardiac reserve can make intensive therapy unsafe, so we screen carefully first.
Primary reading
Guidelines, trials, and regulatory context
FAQ
Questions patients ask before an Istanbul review
Request Medical Evaluation
Begin a personalized treatment conversation with our medical team.
Share your case in confidence. Our international coordinators review every enquiry and respond within 24 hours, in your language.