Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Fixing Hearts

Ken Milles, 39, volunteered for an experimental treatment with stem cell therapy after his heart attack.
Ken Milles, 39, volunteered for an experimental treatment with stem cell therapy after his heart attack (CBS)

Fixing The Heart with Stem Cells

CBS News reported this morning that researchers are now in clinical trials using a cardiac patient's own stem cells to heal the heart.
In a heart attack, the blood supply to part of the heart is shut off by a clot in a clogged artery - causing scarring of the heart muscle, which reduces the ability of the heart to pump.

The best that doctors have been able to do is to promptly open up the clogged artery and limit the damage with drugs.

But one day, there may be a way to get that damaged heart to grow its own brand-new muscle tissue. How? By using the patient's own cardiac stem cells.

This week doctors in Los Angeles have given a heart attack patient an infusion of stem cells grown from his own heart muscle.

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