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Monday, November 5, 2012

Stem cells from strangers can repair hearts

by MARILYNN MARCHIONE

In this Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012 photo provided by the University of Miami, Dr. Joshua M. Hare, director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, performs a heart biopsy, a preliminary step in one of several cardiac stem cell trials at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Researchers are reporting key advances using stem cells to fix weakened, damaged hearts. In one study, bone marrow cells donated by unrelated strangers helped repair hearts, suggesting that cells could be banked for off-the-shelf use in patients after heart attacks the way blood is banked now. (AP Photo/University of Miami) Researchers are reporting a key advance in using stem cells to repair hearts damaged by heart attacks.
In a study in Miami and Baltimore, stem cells donated by strangers proved as safe and effective as patients' own cells for helping restore heart tissue, allowing the heart to pump more effectively.
The work involved just 30 patients, but proves the concept that anyone's cells can be used to treat such cases. Doctors are excited because this suggests that stem cells could be banked for off-the-shelf use in patients after heart attacks the way blood is saved now.
Stem cell therapy reduced the scarred area of patients' hearts by about one third. Results were discussed Monday at a heart conference in California.
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