There are many medical conditions that used to be a certain death sentence but that can now be treated or managed. Conditions such as certain types of cancer, HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension and many others are now routinely cured or kept under control. Massive investments is made to develop new medicines and to investigate the potential of new technologies in the medical field. Stem cell therapy, specifically, and its many potential benefits has particularly excited scientists and the public alike.
This treatment method, also known as bone marrow transplants, is not new. However, for the past 30 years treatment has been limited to transplants for patients suffering from blood related cancers such as lymphoma and leukaemia. Chemotherapy, which is common for such patients kills everything, both the healthy and the diseased. Bone marrow transplants can help them grow new, healthy cells and strengthen their immune systems that were adversely affected by chemotherapy.
Although bone marrow transplants are currently almost exclusively performed on cancer patients, much research is being done regarding the potential uses for this procedure. Many experts are convinced that bone marrow transplants will prove to be one of the most revolutionary treatment methods ever developed for a wide variety of conditions. Astonishing results have been achieved but so far only in controlled conditions and by using animals during experiments.
Much research is being conducted in the potential of bone marrow transplant with patients that suffers from conditions that cause degeneration of the brain. It is believed that the damage suffered by stroke victims and those with with Parkinson and Alzheimer disease or brain injuries will be reversible in the future. Even the effects of serious damage to the spinal cord will be reversed in future.
Heart disease is one of the most common modern medical problems. Much progress has been made but once the heart is physically damage not much can be done. Research indicates that bone marrow transplants will make it possible to repair damaged heart muscles and to grow new blood vessels inside the heart. Sadly, human patients will only benefit from this research in the years to come.
Bone marrow transplants and the research performed in this area have many critics. They say that the potential harm that can be caused by these procedures have not been researched fully and that patients may experience very severe side effects. They argue that much more research need to be done before transplant procedures are offered to human patients. If the body of the recipient rejects the transplanted bone marrow the result could be death.
Critics also point out that donor material is not only harvested from bone marrow. It is also obtained from the blood in the umbilical cords of unborn babies. This, say the critics, opens the doors for abuse and unethical practices. They also accuse practitioners in this field of making false promises to patients simply because they know that many patients will pay the exorbitant cost of these procedures out of desperation.
Most experts agree that there is much work to be done. They insist, however, that eventually bone marrow transplants will prove to be a massive breakthrough in the treatment of conditions that can currently not be managed. One can only hope that they will be proved right.
This treatment method, also known as bone marrow transplants, is not new. However, for the past 30 years treatment has been limited to transplants for patients suffering from blood related cancers such as lymphoma and leukaemia. Chemotherapy, which is common for such patients kills everything, both the healthy and the diseased. Bone marrow transplants can help them grow new, healthy cells and strengthen their immune systems that were adversely affected by chemotherapy.
Although bone marrow transplants are currently almost exclusively performed on cancer patients, much research is being done regarding the potential uses for this procedure. Many experts are convinced that bone marrow transplants will prove to be one of the most revolutionary treatment methods ever developed for a wide variety of conditions. Astonishing results have been achieved but so far only in controlled conditions and by using animals during experiments.
Much research is being conducted in the potential of bone marrow transplant with patients that suffers from conditions that cause degeneration of the brain. It is believed that the damage suffered by stroke victims and those with with Parkinson and Alzheimer disease or brain injuries will be reversible in the future. Even the effects of serious damage to the spinal cord will be reversed in future.
Heart disease is one of the most common modern medical problems. Much progress has been made but once the heart is physically damage not much can be done. Research indicates that bone marrow transplants will make it possible to repair damaged heart muscles and to grow new blood vessels inside the heart. Sadly, human patients will only benefit from this research in the years to come.
Bone marrow transplants and the research performed in this area have many critics. They say that the potential harm that can be caused by these procedures have not been researched fully and that patients may experience very severe side effects. They argue that much more research need to be done before transplant procedures are offered to human patients. If the body of the recipient rejects the transplanted bone marrow the result could be death.
Critics also point out that donor material is not only harvested from bone marrow. It is also obtained from the blood in the umbilical cords of unborn babies. This, say the critics, opens the doors for abuse and unethical practices. They also accuse practitioners in this field of making false promises to patients simply because they know that many patients will pay the exorbitant cost of these procedures out of desperation.
Most experts agree that there is much work to be done. They insist, however, that eventually bone marrow transplants will prove to be a massive breakthrough in the treatment of conditions that can currently not be managed. One can only hope that they will be proved right.