Adult Stem Cells Upgraded

Researchers at Northwestern University examined published reports of patient treatments with adult stem cells for autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. Their study excluded traditional adult stem cell treatments related to cancers or blood diseases, focusing on 69 studies from 1997 through 2007, using adult stem cells to treat 854 patients treated for autoimmune diseases and 1664 patients treated for cardiovascular diseases.

Their analysis showed modest to significant patient health improvement, including “a potent disease-ameliorating and remission-inducing effect” of adult stem cells for autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus, system sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, type I (juvenile) diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn disease. They also noted improvement in patients with vascular problems such as acute heart attack damage, chronic coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease.

The authors note that these treatments are at an early stage of development, and point out the need for more extensive clinical trials, particularly at experienced treatment centers. This report demonstrating the published success of adult stem cell treatments for patients validates our previous statements that adult stem cells are effective at improving patient health for a range of over 70 diseases, while embryonic stem cells continue to demonstrate zero benefits for humans; as the authors note, embryonic stem cells are “difficult to control due to their tendency to form tumors” and have other practical problems.

Tony Perkins is the president of the Family Research Council. This feature is excerpted from an update that he compiled for the FRC.