A recent report discusses a study that showed stem cell therapy can improve quality of life and pulmonary function in patients with lung diseases.
The white paper by Jack Coleman Jr., MD, mentions a pilot study conducted at the Lung Institute, in which researchers tested approximately 100 patients with COPD. Within three months of treatment with autologous stem cell therapy, 84% of the patients found their quality of life improved, with an average improvement of 35%.
In the study, researchers analyzed 25 patients in more detail regarding lung function, and found that 48% had an increase in pulmonary function higher than 10%, with the average rate of improvement at 16%.
The discovery could change lives significantly. For millions of people suffering from COPD, a natural decline in pulmonary health is a harsh reality. The study confirms that undifferentiated multipotent endogenous tissue stem cells — cells that have been identified in nearly all tissues — contribute to tissue maintenance and repair due to their inherent anti-inflammatory properties.
Although research on the use of autologous stem cells is still in its early stages, it has shown substantive progress in treating patients with few, if any, adverse effects, Coleman said in a news release. “COPD is currently the third leading cause of death in the United States, and we’re giving our patients an alternative option that doesn’t just mask the symptoms,” he said.
