Regenerative Medicine for Coronary Artery Bypass
There have been many doctors researching the use of stem cells when it comes to cardiology and pulmonary medical practices. Some doctors and researchers are even looking forward to the day when they can grow a whole heart with stem cells. While that may seem impossible, we are already taking the first steps toward this eventuality.
Doctors are now growing blood vessels and arteries with stem cells. The stem cells used to create these arteries are derived from umbilical cord blood, which has the most adaptable stem cells with the most potential for growth. Umbilical cord stem cells must come from carefully processed umbilical cords that are donated by mothers who have given birth. No other umbilical cord stem cells are allowed by law.
However, with the new FDA regulations coming soon to regenerative medicine, these sources may well change, or it could be possible that clinical trials deny the effectiveness of these grown arteries. It will take many patients and a lot of research before it becomes a certainty that healing from coronary artery bypass is healed with stem cells.
Yet for the time being, researchers are busy growing these arteries and blood vessels, and they have been used for some patients. The research and clinical studies are overwhelming in their positive results for these arteries and blood vessels.
The other significance to this research is that stem cells may be able to repair the coronary artery after bypass. The stem cells work with the body’s own healing processes to stimulate repair of the stressed artery.
