Stem cell therapies for hearts inching closer to wide use

[steven johnson]

New promising techniques involving stem cells to help the heart repair itself after heart attacks or heart artery blockages are being developed.

Baxter has reported success in decreasing anginal symptoms in patients with low heart blood flow by injecting patients' own stem cells directly into heart muscle but there is a 1% perforation risk with this procedure.

A less invasive technique of intravenously injecting mesenchymal stem cells within ten days of a heart attach holds promise because of the much lower risk to the patient. Unlike bone marrow transplantations mesenchymal stem cells do not require matching -- any donor can give cells to any other donor, and no immunosuppresant drugs are necessary, he said. Also, mesenchymal stem cells come from adults rather than embryos with the attendant ethical issues. Mesenchymal stem cells have a natural homing ability in going to areas of injury. This intravenous injection could theoretically could be done in a doctor's office, making it much more available.

An intravenous method of injecting stem cells into patients who had experienced heart attacks within the previous 10 days suggested that this method works to repair -- not just manage -- heart damage, a recent study found.

"Many patients who have a heart attack will go on to suffer heart failure," he said. "It's imperative to try and fix the root of the problem as quickly as possible."

The researchers are using a mesenchymal stem cell therapy that is marketed by Osiris Therapeutics Inc. under the name Prochymal. The drug, which consists of stem cells from donor bone marrow, gets injected into the vein. The cells then travel through the bloodstream and take up residence in the heart.

The stem cells reduce the amount of scar tissue and increase the pumping strength of the heart in heart attack patients, Hare said. To a limited extent, they also grow new heart muscle.

Stem cell therapies for hearts inching closer to wide use

[silverweb]

1. Very good news!

:thumbsup:

[mopinko]

2. very interesting.

somehow i think they are getting a brazillion buck a shot, tho.