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| Stem cell jabs for heart patients | Stem cell jabs for heart patients |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A pioneering cardiac trial is to see patients who suffer heart attacks given injections of their own stem cells within the following five hours. | A pioneering cardiac trial is to see patients who suffer heart attacks given injections of their own stem cells within the following five hours. |
| Preliminary evidence has suggested that bone marrow stem cells can be used to repair the damage to the heart muscle inflicted during a heart attack. | |
| And that could help prevent subsequent heart failure, which is more of a threat than the initial attack itself. | And that could help prevent subsequent heart failure, which is more of a threat than the initial attack itself. |
| The trial, run by St Barts Hospital in London, will involve up to 100 people. | The trial, run by St Barts Hospital in London, will involve up to 100 people. |
| The project is the first to be funded by the UK Stem Cell Foundation. | The project is the first to be funded by the UK Stem Cell Foundation. |
| If we can demonstrate improvement in the quality of life of patients then this will be a significant step forward in the treatment of heart disease Dr Anthony Mathur | If we can demonstrate improvement in the quality of life of patients then this will be a significant step forward in the treatment of heart disease Dr Anthony Mathur |
| Heart attacks kill 108,000 people in the UK each year, and there are currently estimated to be 660,000 heart attack survivors. | Heart attacks kill 108,000 people in the UK each year, and there are currently estimated to be 660,000 heart attack survivors. |
| It is estimated that heart attacks cost the UK economy around £7bn a year. | It is estimated that heart attacks cost the UK economy around £7bn a year. |
| Over the last decade, the use of primary angioplasty, a technique to clear the blocked arteries of patients who have had a heart attack, has helped to reduce the risk of death in the immediate aftermath of an attack. | Over the last decade, the use of primary angioplasty, a technique to clear the blocked arteries of patients who have had a heart attack, has helped to reduce the risk of death in the immediate aftermath of an attack. |
| However, the risk of death from long-term complications, such as the onset of heart failure, remains high. | However, the risk of death from long-term complications, such as the onset of heart failure, remains high. |
| Combining techniques | Combining techniques |
| The new trial, which plans to recruit 100 patients, will combine primary angioplasty with a stem cell injection to try to combat both problems. | The new trial, which plans to recruit 100 patients, will combine primary angioplasty with a stem cell injection to try to combat both problems. |
| Patients shouldn't get the impression there is a panacea around the corner Professor Peter Weissberg | Patients shouldn't get the impression there is a panacea around the corner Professor Peter Weissberg |
| Stem cells are immature cells that have the potential to become any kind of tissue in the body. | Stem cells are immature cells that have the potential to become any kind of tissue in the body. |
| Professor John Martin, who has helped design the new trial, said: "Taking heart attack patients to centres where their blocked coronary artery can be opened immediately has led to significant increases in survival and decreases in the damage to heart muscle. | Professor John Martin, who has helped design the new trial, said: "Taking heart attack patients to centres where their blocked coronary artery can be opened immediately has led to significant increases in survival and decreases in the damage to heart muscle. |
| "Previous studies in the heart have shown that stem cell delivery to the heart is safe. | "Previous studies in the heart have shown that stem cell delivery to the heart is safe. |
| "We will show whether it works in acute heart attack. Our study combines the two new ways of treating heart attack victims for the first time." | "We will show whether it works in acute heart attack. Our study combines the two new ways of treating heart attack victims for the first time." |
| Heart attack patients brought to the London Chest Hospital and the Heart Hospital, also in London, for direct coronary intervention will be recruited for the study. | Heart attack patients brought to the London Chest Hospital and the Heart Hospital, also in London, for direct coronary intervention will be recruited for the study. |
| Few complications | Few complications |
| Following primary angioplasty, a stem cell sample will be taken from the patient's own bone marrow. | Following primary angioplasty, a stem cell sample will be taken from the patient's own bone marrow. |
| Once the cells have been prepared, patients will receive the sample into the previously blocked artery. | Once the cells have been prepared, patients will receive the sample into the previously blocked artery. |
| Dr Anthony Mathur, who will also play a key role, said: "If we can demonstrate improvement in the quality of life of patients then this will be a significant step forward in the treatment of heart disease. | Dr Anthony Mathur, who will also play a key role, said: "If we can demonstrate improvement in the quality of life of patients then this will be a significant step forward in the treatment of heart disease. |
| "Because the stem cells are taken from the patient themselves there are minimal ethical issues surrounding this procedure. There is also less likelihood of rejection complications." | "Because the stem cells are taken from the patient themselves there are minimal ethical issues surrounding this procedure. There is also less likelihood of rejection complications." |
| Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said stem cell therapy had the potential to offer new hope to patients with cardiovascular disease. | Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said stem cell therapy had the potential to offer new hope to patients with cardiovascular disease. |
| But he added: "This trial is unlikely, on its own, to determine the future treatment of heart attacks - and patients shouldn't get the impression there is a panacea around the corner. | But he added: "This trial is unlikely, on its own, to determine the future treatment of heart attacks - and patients shouldn't get the impression there is a panacea around the corner. |
| "The trial is likely to give us more information - but there is a long way to go." | "The trial is likely to give us more information - but there is a long way to go." |