Stem Cell Heart Treatment

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists heart disease as the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. An estimated 12 percent of the population is diagnosed with some form of heart condition within any given year. Stem cell treatment options may provide an alternative way to strengthen damaged heart muscles and blood vessels.

Stem Cells

• Individuals who suffer from heart disease often develop damaged or degenerated tissue formations within the heart. Damaged areas weaken the heart muscle, complicating treatment and recovery processes. As of 2009, the use of stem cell materials to replace damaged heart structures is a fairly new treatment approach. Stem cells' unique ability to grow into various cell types make it possible to use these materials as a way to repair or replenish damaged heart tissue. Stem cells are found in bone marrow, skin cells and other regions of the body.

Heart Disease

• Normal heart function depends on the condition of the heart muscle and the ability of surrounding blood vessels to transport blood. Problems within these areas can develop into conditions that cause heart disease. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the arteries leading to the heart become narrow as a result of plaque buildup. The risk for angina, heart attack or stroke greatly increases when blockages occur in the blood vessels. Ongoing blockages can cause areas of the heart to deteriorate and weaken. Researchers are working to restore heart muscle tissue and blood vessels using stem cells.

Heart Attack Treatment

• Heart attacks occur as a result of blockages that form in the arteries or the blood vessels inside the heart muscle. In 2007, a six-month clinical trial led by Joshua Hare, M.D., from the University of Miami School of Medicine administered stem cell treatments to 53 patients who suffered heart attacks within 10 days prior to the trial. Stem cell materials taken from the patients' bone marrow were injected into damaged heart regions. The results of the trial showed improvements in patient heart muscle tissue and in overall heart function.

Angina Treatment

• Angina is a form of heart disease in which damage occurs when the heart's blood vessels don't receive adequate amounts of oxygen-rich blood. Feelings of pressure within the chest, shoulders or back are typically present. Over time, a lack of oxygen causes blood vessels to die off in areas of the heart and weakens portions of the heart muscle. In 2009, a nationwide stem cell study was conducted to determine whether bone marrow stem cell transplants could restore damaged muscle tissue. Results from the study showed patients experienced less chest pain and pressure and were better able to walk without experiencing discomfort.

Heart Transplant Alternative

• Ongoing research studies supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health are developing techniques which use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as an alternative to heart transplant procedures. IPSCs are adult stem cells that have been reprogrammed into a specific cell type. IPSCs have the same capabilities as embryonic cells which are able to differentiate into any cell type within the body. Researchers are using stem cells contained within the skin to manufacture heart muscle cells. The new cells are intended to replace damaged heart muscle tissue, eliminating the need for organ transplant.