Stem Cell Treatment for Heart Disease
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Richard Rzaca ■ United States ■ Vescell
James Eilert ■ United States ■ Phyathai HospitalHeart disease is an umbrella term for a number of diseases involving the heart. It includes such conditions as coronary heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory heart disease, valvular heart disease, and ischaemic heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in some western countries, such as the United States.
Many avenues of stem cell treatment are currently being investigated in trials the world over. If healthy heart muscle cells can be generated in the laboratory, they can be transplanted into patients suffering from chronic heart disease. Preliminary research in animals indicate that bone marrow stem cells have the ability generate heart muscle cells and can repopulate heart tissue.
One example of stem cell therapy for seriously ill heart patients involving adult stem cells to rejuvenate failing hearts, reduce chest pain, and improve activity levels was carried out in Northwestern University. One year after the injection of their own purified stem cells, patients continued to have reduced angina and improved activity. This study - like a variety of others - shows promise, however further research is necessary.
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