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Adult Stem Cells Around the
Globe: Saving Lives and
Improving Health
Part Three of Three By David Prentice Editor's note. This review article can be found at www.frcblog.com. An article in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA )provides a global perspective on adult stem cell transplants. In particular, the researchers wanted to know how many transplants were taking place in different parts of the world. This particular study looked only at hematopoietic stem cell transplants, i.e., transplants of blood-forming cells, obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood; it did not survey uses of other adult stem cell types, such as mesenchymal, adipose-derived, or nasal adult stem cells.
They note that adult stem cell transplants have become "the standard of care for many patients" with blood disorders and malignancies, though they are starting to be used for other conditions including autoimmune disorders and heart disease. They also note that their study "demonstrates that it is an accepted therapy worldwide." Adult stem cells are saving lives and improving health now. [The JAMA article can be found at http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/303/16/1617] Be sure to also read "National Right to Life News Today" and send your comments on anything or everything to daveandrusko@gmail.com. |
Their
survey found that worldwide in
2006 a total of 50,417
transplants were performed using
these adult stem cells. Of that
total, 57% used the patient's
own adult stem cells, and 43%
used donor adult stem cells.
Almost half (48%) took place in
Europe, followed by the Americas
(36%), Asia (14%), and the
Eastern Mediterranean and Africa
(2%).