In a human trial using patients’ own bone marrow adult stem cells, alcohol-caused cirrhosis of the liver has been treated and the patients improved. From the story:
All patients tolerated the procedure well and over 12 weeks of follow-up there were significant decreases in serum bilirubin. A significant reduction in levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase was seen 1 week after the transfusion and showed improvement through the study period.
Seven of the patients showed an improvement in Child-Pugh scores, and on imaging at 12 weeks, three patients showed a complete resolution of ascites and two had a significant reduction.
“This is an area of medicine where there is tremendous progress day by day,” concluded Dr. Habib. “We hope that stem cell therapy will help many patients with liver disease.”
Oh hum: Another day, another adult stem cell success.
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