Are you are talking about a bone marrow transplant using your own stem cells. If that's the case then big downsides are death, secondary clonal diseases, toxic drugs to kill your immune system, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals to prevent or treat infections during the time you have no immune system...and the list goes on.

Even though the autologous stem cell transplant does not carry the risk of graft vs host disease, it is still very hard on your body. And if your PN is idiopathic I can't see anyone agreeing to do one.

Has anyone done stem cell transplants for idiopathic PN? They have done transplants as well as high dose cytoxan for those with other types autoimmune diseases. But that is usually after all other stuff has failed them.

John went through high dose cytoxan for Aplastic Anemia which basically wipes out your immune system but spares some of your own stem cells so they can regenerate the bone marrow. He ended up with PN and other collateral damage.

They have come a long way with transplants but it is still very risky.