A stem cell transplant operation has been successfully conducted by surgeons at the Guangxi Medical University to cure a lupus erythematosus patient.

The therapy, representing the world's most advanced medical technology, still needs more clinical practice to prove its overall effectiveness, said Lin Youkun, deputy dean of the dermatology department of the No.1 Hospital of the university.

The 26-year-old patient, who suffered the painful immune disorder, had regained normal indices in the latest comprehensive medical examination, and left the hospital.

He was diagnosed as carrying the disease at the age of 12, and had received hormone therapy for a long time, which had no particular effect on the illness.

He had almost lost hope of surviving and refused to take medicine before the operation.

The operation took about a month and cost him 50,000 yuan, but was less painful than other therapies, according to the patient. The only drawback, however, was the negative effects resulting from chemotherapy.

The number of lupus patients is on the rise in China, with an incidence of 75 in every 100,000 people.

Blood-producing stem cell transplants have been used in curing leukemia, rheumatism and systematic chorionitis.

(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2002)