Follow up results from first case of pulmonary hypertension treated with stem cells

Nov 25 2008

Dr. Leonel Fernandez Liriano, Professor of Medicine at Pontifical Catholic University School of Medicine (PCUSM), announced nine month follow up results for the first patient treated with engineered stem cells in a clinical study of primary pulmonary hypertension.

The stem cells are extracted from patients' own blood and trained to become new blood vessels.

Zannos Grekos, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Cardiology at Nova Southeastern University and head of the international team that developed the stem cell treatment protocol, says, "It goes against traditional theory that we should try to fix the existing pulmonary vasculature, but we are generating new blood vessels with impressive results." According to Grekos, the clinical study is a collaborative effort amongst physicians at Regenocyte Therapeutic, a Florida-based stem cell clinic; researchers from TheraVitae, a biotechnology company in Tel Aviv, Israel; and physicians from Regenocyte's Dominican Republic division. The patient's base line and follow up testing is being conducted in part by Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.

Patient Karl Wagner, age 46 of Macon, Georgia, underwent the Adult Stem Cell therapy in February 2008. Wagner says since being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, he was on a rapid decline. "I was being managed by medication, but still had violent chest pains, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue, and severe shortness of breath…I could barely do anything with my daughters and was on oxygen almost all the time. Doctors at Mayo Clinic gave me a three year prognosis."

Dr. Héctor José Rosario, Professor of Cardiology at PCUSM and Director of Cardiovascular Therapy for Regenocyte's Dominican division, says Wagner's reduction in pulmonary artery mean pressure from 41mmHg (severe pulmonary hypertension) to 24 mmHg (normal) is extremely encouraging, and to date, the other patients in the study are following the same pattern.

"This is the first time medical science has successfully reversed the disease process in pulmonary hypertension, a previously untreatable condition with a very grim prognosis," Rosario states.

"Using advanced engineered stem cell technology and innovative delivery methods," Grekos explains, "we've been able to harness the regenerative power of stem cells and literally replace the damaged blood vessels in the lungs of the pulmonary hypertension patients."

Wagner's saturations are now consistently high, and he no longer needs to be supplemented with oxygen or considered for a lung transplant. "I feel great," he says, "and have a normal life again. I take my girls to school every morning and work all day…my quality of life is ten-fold what it used to be. I also am off almost all of my medications and the doctors at Mayo Clinic have given me a new prognosis."

Athina Kyritsis, M.D. and chair of Regenocyte's Scientific Advisory Board, says the work announced today is based upon several years of Regenocyte's clinical experience in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease using Autologous Adult Stem Cell therapy. "In treating diseases like Cardiomyopathy and Peripheral Vascular Disease, we've had consistent success in generating viable heart tissue and growing new vessels; with the increased circulation, healing of wounds, and improvement in ejection fractions, it seemed a natural progression to approach pulmonary hypertension in the same manner. I believe we have only begun to discover what Adult Stem Cells can accomplish in altering the course of diseases now thought to be untreatable."

About the Alliance for the Advancement of Adult Stem Cell Therapy and Research

The Alliance for the Advancement of Adult Stem Cell Therapy and Research is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the use of adult stem cells in the research and treatment of life-altering diseases. This alliance also strives to ensure treatment for those who qualify and could not otherwise afford to receive it. To become a supporting member, please call (239) 498-9187.

Regenocyte Therapeutic is one of the only clinically treating Adult Stem Cell Therapy centers in the world today. An experienced team of Board Certified physicians use cutting edge technology, paralleling that of Universities and major medical facilities, to prolong and improve the quality of life of patients living with diseases including Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy, Peripheral Artery Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Kidney Disease, Ischemic Heart Disease, Pulmonary Disease, and Early Senile Dementia. For patient information or consultation, call 866-216-5710.