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- Title
Allay the ailing hearts-promising stem cell therapy through apheresis: An experience of a tertiary care hospital in South India, i.e. S.V.I.M.S., Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
- Authors
Babu, K. V. Sreedhar; Kumar, A. Gururaj; Sharma, K. K.; Verma, Anju; Subrahmanyam, G.
- Abstract
Background: Stem cells are 'master cells' found in all vertebrate animals including humans. These cells can divide to give cells either identical to themselves or differentiate into a specific cell type for indefinite periods - often throughout the life of an organism. With these properties, they play important roles in the process of normal development, regeneration and repair of damaged tissues-which can be genetic, developmental, traumatic or age related. These stem cells can be retrieved either from an embryo (unethical), umbilical cord blood, Bone marrow, skeletal muscle or peripheral blood. The utilization of peripheral blood stem cells is gaining wide importance and acceptance because of so many advantages of them over others. Stem cells therapy is an autologous stem cell treatment derived from a patient's own blood to treat various diseases such as myocardical infarction, cardiomyopathy, leukemias, myeloma, hepatic failure, etc., Stem cell therapy gives desperate ailing man confidence, strength and hope by adding years to life. Aim: To evaluate efficacy of homing technique of autologous peripheral blood stem cells in cardiac patients. Materials and Methods: After identifying the suitable cardiac patients by the cardiologist for autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, the patient was given a long acting granulocyte colony stimulating factor (Pegfilgrastim), in the dose of 10 µg/kg/ day subcutaneously for 4 to 5 days to mobilize peripheral blood stem cells from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood. From 2nd day onwards daily total leukocyte count was done. When the count reaches over 30,000/µl, the patient was subjected to apheresis by continuous flow centrifugation to collect 30-40 ml of peripheral blood stem cell concentrate using either RVY or C4Y disposable stem cell pheresis kits. After identifying the presence of CD34 + cells by immunohistochemistry these stem cells were transplanted at the site of damaged myocardium via coronaries through Angio by the cardiologist. Results: During the period from September 2006 to August 2007, a total of 19 peripheral blood stem cell phereses were done. The commonest age group was 6th decade (31.58%) followed by 1st decade (21.05%). The youngest patient was 3-year-old male child and the oldest was 69 years male. For most of the patients the ejection fraction is around 30%. Majority of the patients belong to blood group 'O' positive (47.36%) followed by 'B' positive (26.32%). All the patients are showing improvement in their functional status. Conclusion: Adult stem cells collected, harvested and re-infused showed benefits especially to the greater satisfaction of the people who underwent these procedures which is associated with minimal risks. But as it is a small study of short duration, it needs further work-up and review for definitive conclusion.
- Publication
Asian Journal of Transfusion Science, 2008, Vol 2, Issue 1, p25
- ISSN
0973-6247
- Publication type
Academic Journal