Angina can be treated with stem cells

Elvira Koshkina, "Compulenta", based on the materials of HealthDay News.

The experiment was conducted by a team of specialists led by Douglas Losordo, director of the Feinberg Institute for Cardiovascular Disease Research at Northwestern University in Chicago (USA). For testing, 167 adult Americans were selected who underwent intensive treatment for angina pectoris, but had contraindications for conventional therapeutic procedures — vascular reconstruction and stenting, coronary artery bypass grafting.

At the first stage of the experiment, all the subjects were given a drug that stimulates the release of mature CD34+ stem cells from the bone marrow into the blood. These stem cells were then collected from each patient's blood and separated from the other components. Half of the participants in the experiment were injected with stem cells at ten points on the heart muscle, and all the others were injected with a saline solution.

Six months later, it turned out that patients who received stem cell injections were able to walk longer distances on a treadmill than those who were injected with saline. In addition, during physical exertion, they later began to have heart pain, which disappeared immediately after a short rest. The "stem" group also had chest pains much less often than those who were injected with saline.

The results of the experiment look very promising, but require more extensive research. Doctors believe that in the near future, the treatment of angina with stem cells will become widespread and will enable patients to lead a more active life without pain.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru01.04.2009