Posted on 07/01/2008 7:03:21 PM PDT by Coleus
There's been a lot of controversy over the use of embryonic stem cells in recent years, but adult stem cells, which few people oppose using, are already giving some patients a new lease on life. Donald Reid is hoping adult stem cells will give him more time. The 57-year-old has clogged arteries and heart disease so bad he's not a candidate for surgery.
Instead, he's joined an experimental study. It involves a machine that takes his blood and pulls out stem cells. But these aren't stem cells from an embryo. These are Donald's own adult stem cells. In the coming days, doctors will inject them directly into Donald's heart, with the hope it will regenerate and revitalize the damaged organ.
Stem cells have become standard therapy for treating several types of cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. But according to new research this treatment is now starting to show real promise in treating other diseases. A review of hundreds of trials found in some patients adult stem cells have stopped auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Some heart patients like Donald have also seen improvement. Weill Cornell's Dr. Michael Schuster is excited by the results but warns it's still early. "We don't know yet what the best technique is. We don't really know how much of a benefit the patients will have," he said.
Dr. Schuster said it will be a few years before we know if stem cells can also be used to treat diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkison's.
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