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Question:
Does Texas Heart Institute use stem cell therapies for treating heart disease?
Dear Sirs, greetings!
I'm writing from Brazil and please I ask you to answer my questions.
1. Does Texas Heart Institute use stem cell therapies for the treatment of any heart disease?
2. If so, what is the source of stem cells: bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord?
3. Which method of obtaining stem cells does Texas Heart Institute use?
Best regards!
submitted by Flavio from Belo Horizonte - Minas Gerais - Brazil on 6/9/2014
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Guilherme V. Silva, MD
Dear Flavio,
We are moving forward with stem cell research at THI. We are currently treating patients with heart failure and peripheral arterial disease. The cells we use are bone marrow: either from the patient (autologous) or donor cells (allogeneic). We also use fat derived stem cells from liposuction.
The trials are rapidly advancing and in the next few years we hope to have a therapy ready for our patients.
Hope that helps.
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Updated June 2014
