Heart disease includes numerous health issues, all of which are related to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops in artery walls due to plaque build-up, which narrows the arteries, making it more difficult for blood to flow through them. If left untreated, atherosclerosis can evolve into cardiac disease, and it is possible that a blood clot will form in the arteries resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
New Treatment for the Number One Killer in the US and Europe
Cardiac disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and Europe today despite the many advances that have been made in treatments such as cardiac resynchronization therapies, pharmacotherapy, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Stem cell therapy for cardiac disease is the most recent development in science as another option for treating patients with cardiac disease.
Stem cell therapy for cardiac disease at MetroMD Institute of Regenerative Medicine uses several different types of cells that promote the repair of damaged myocardium. There are two main sources of cells used in treating cardiac disease; adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells.
Different Types of Stem Cells
There are several types of adult stem cells that can be used in stem cell therapy for cardiac disease. Each type of stem cell is derived from bone marrow and can be isolated to serve different purposes. It is a popular practice to simply plant a mixture of cells, as this saves time and extensive ex vivo manipulation, though studies have shown that the therapeutic qualities of using a cell mixture may be lower as compared with isolating purer populations of cells for regeneration of the damaged tissues.
Embryonic stem cells, as the name implies, come from the inner mass of developing embryos during the blastocyst stage of growth. The advantages of using these types of cells in stem cell therapy for cardiac disease are great, as they are self-renewing and can differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. Science is still working on finding a way to generate an unlimited supply of histocompatible cells using the nuclei of cells taken directly from the patients themselves.
A Promising New Treatment for Cardiac Disease
Stem cell therapy at MetroMD Institute of Regenerative Medicine promises to be one of the most beneficial stem cell therapy treatments available. This new type of therapy maximizes the restoration of function in the arteries and heart muscle in a safe and effective way. There are a number of different stem cells that aid in regenerating damage in the arteries and heart and a number of methods used to deliver the stem cells. This type of therapy offers a new chance to lower the mortality rates caused by this terrible disease.
