AFMC begins stem cell therapy on heart patients

Even as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, pioneered the treatment of heart problems using stem cells in the country, now for the first time in Pune, the armed forces hospital has initiated the stem cell therapy at the MH-CTC.

Stem cells can act as a repair system for the body replenishing lost or damaged specialised cells. They can be readily grown and transformed into specialised tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the DBT are already involved in research projects in embryonic stem cells. In fact, Asia’s largest stem cell research centre is set to come up at the AFMC.

The procedure involves injecting stem cells into the artery leading to the diseased organ. The regenerative cells are delivered to the affected area initiating the process of repair and re-growth of healthy cells. AFMC Commandant Lt Gen S K Kaul told media persons on Monday that the procedure was initiated in two patients at MH-CTC earlier this month.

The stem cells were harvested from the patients’ bone marrow, processed at the Department of Blood Transfusion at AFMC and then administered to the patients.

While the team of cardiologists at MH-CTC will follow up with the treatment, the DGAFMS pointed out that five centres — AIIMS, AFMC, Army hospital (research and referral), New Delhi, PGI Chandigarh, Sanjay Gandhi Institute at Lucknow — would be involved in the project to look at the effect of stem cells on regenerating dead cardiac muscles after an heart attack.

So far, stem cell therapy has been used in 112 patients at Army hospital (Research and Referral). Surg Vice Admiral Singh also said plans were afoot to set up a bone marrow bank and an organ retrieval bank. He also pointed out that super specialties had been introduced at 42 hospitals in the armed forces.

What is stem cell therapy?

• Stem cells can act as a repair system for the body replenishing lost or damaged specialised cells

• They can be readily grown and transformed into specialised tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture

• The procedure involves injecting stem cells into the artery leading to the diseased organ

• The regenerative cells are delivered to the affected area initiating the process of repair and re-growth of healthy cells