Chennai doctors use stem cells to regenerate blood vessels

[Kalyan]

Chennai doctors use stem cells to regenerate blood vessels

Adult stem cells extracted from one's own bone marrow have been found to cure several ailments, but its use for regeneration of blood vessels holds out bigger hopes.

    The department of vascular surgery at Sri Ramachandra Medical College Hospital and Research Institute (SRMC) in December 2007 used adult stem cells to trigger the growth of blood vessels in at least 30 patients suffering from limb ischemia, in which blood vessels get blocked, resulting in amputation.

    When SRMC doctors told a 64-yearold diabetic patient that they had reversed their decision to amputate his leg, medicos gathered to see what could save the limb of the patient. It was the first case to apply the clinical study the hospital had begun in association with Lifecell, a private stem cell bank. Eight weeks after the procedure, the patient started walking, without pain. The procedure was peer-reviewed last month.

    The patient had already lost his right leg and big toe on his left leg to the disease. "At that time, we were sure that his left leg too had to be amputated. The arteries were getting increasingly blocked and blood supply was less than 30%," recalls chief vascular surgeon Dr K Vijayaraghavan.

The doctors removed 240 ml of blood from the bone marrow, from which 40 ml with a high concentration of stem cells was collected. After an angiogram, doctors in jected this blood into 40 spots between the patient's knee and foot.

STEM CELLS TURN SAVIOUR

Chennai docs use bone marrow stem cells to regenerate blood vessels in patients' legs to avoid amputations

STEM CELLS:

Undifferentiated cells that can develop into different kinds of cells and tissues. This makes them useful in repair of organs. Found in abundance in embryos, umbilical cord and bone marrow

USE: Adult stem cells useful in treatment of stroke, heart problems and liver diseases. This is probably the first time stem cells extracted from bone marrow of an individual have been used to trigger regeneration of blood vessels in his leg IN THE LAB: Doctors extracted 240ml of blood from bone marrow and from this 40ml of fluid rich in stem cells

IN THE THEATRE:

Injected into 40 spots between the patient's knee and foot, along the blocked arteries

12 WEEKS LATER:

Patient got back to his routine. Doctors say stem cells helped in growth of new arteries

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN: Doctors believe this could be a potential treatment and help avoid amputations

FUTURE: A double blind study. Only this will confirm if everything said in the clinical trial was right

source : times of india

[ganeshbala]

INtersting ..good effort made ..