Stem Cells Healing Hearts
POSTED: 10:48 am EDT April 22, 2008
UPDATED: 1:52 pm EDT April 22, 2008
BACKGROUND: With the ability to regenerate themselves and act as a
repair system, stem cells are being used in a variety of ways to
fight disease and even grow new organs and tissue. There are two
types of stem cells: adult stem cells -- found in adult tissues --
and embryonic stem cells -- found in early human embryos. Heated
debates continue to race on regarding the ethic issues surrounding
the use of embryonic stem cells, but adult stem cells -- particularly
those found in umbilical cord blood and bone marrow -- are touted as
promising candidates for many medical therapies and have been used
for years to treat leukemia and related bone/blood cancers through
bone marrow transplants.
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE: Despite advances in cardiovascular care and
a growing body of evidence surrounding nutrition and exercise as it
relates to heart health, congestive heart failure -- the ineffective
pumping of the heart caused by the loss or dysfunction of heart
muscle cells -- continues to affect more than five million Americans
with another 550,000 new cases diagnosed each year (Source: The
American Heart Association)
patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure die within five
years of their initial diagnosis. Research shows therapies like clot-
busting medications can reestablish blood flow to damaged regions of
the heart. Now, scientists are using stem cells to replace dead or
impaired muscle cells to strengthen weakened hearts.
STEM CELLS: Researchers are now using adult stem cells from a
patient's own bone marrow to strengthen weakened hearts. By
extracting stem cells -- between 25 and 40 million of them -- from a
patient's own bone marrow, doctors can replace the cells into
weakened heart muscle. Because they are using the patient's own
cells, there is no risk of rejection and doctors can create better
blood flow to areas of the heart that aren't getting it.
Relief isn't immediate. It can take up to four months for patients to
feel the effects of stem cells implanted in their heart. Stem cell
therapy may not be appropriate for all patients suffering from
congestive heart failure. Doctors at the Texas Heart Institute say at
this point, it's more of a last resort option when bypass surgery and
other methods fail.
OTHER STEM CELLS STUDIES: In June 2007, a large trial involving
patients who had recently suffered a heart attack were injected with
stem cells from their own bone marrow to see if the therapy would
prevent the cell death and subsequent scarring of heart muscle that
typically follows a heart attack.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Texas Heart Institute
http://www.wftv.
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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