Adult Stem Cells Help Stroke Victim Recover!

Posted 4 December, 2008 in ADULT STEM CELL VICTORIES!, MAD ABOUT STEM CELLS!, Stroke |

Of course most of the headlines of this well publicized story leave out the fact that it was Adult Stem Cells that were responsible for this great success.  However, let’s not dwell on that.  Instead, let’s look at another great discovery due to Adult Stem Cell research and another wonderful use of Repair (Adult) Stem Cells:

This product is for patients who suffer a haemorrhagic stroke, where a blood vessel in the brain bursts and that is exactly what happened to Walter Bast, a 49 year old gentleman from Germany.  Normally, the only option for a haemorrhagic stroke is an operation which doesn’t always work.  In fact, about 50% of the patients die within one month of this operation and the rest usually have major damage.

However, there is a new way now- A Repair Stem Cell teabag so to speak:

The pioneering treatment, called CellBeads, involves cutting away part of the skull to tie off leaking blood vessels and remove blood from the brain.

Surgeons then insert the 2cm by 2cm ‘teabag’ filled with capsules stuffed with around a million stem cells.

The stem cells, taken from bone marrow (this means they are REPAIR STEM CELLS- DON), have been genetically engineered to make a drug known as CM1 that protects brain cells from dying. This lets the cells rejuvenate and repair the damage done by the stroke.

After around two weeks, doctors at the International Neuroscience-Institute in Hanover, Germany, removed the ‘teabag’, resulting in Mr Bast regaining his speech and the use of his right arm.

Speaking a week after the operation, the first of its kind in the world, Mr Bast, a mechanic, said: “I feel a lucky guy.”

The so-called CellBeads treatment is the brainchild of scientists at the British medical technology firm Biocompatibles International, based in Farnham, Surrey.

The stem cells are encapsulated in beads to hide them from the immune system and ensure they are not rejected by the body.

Enclosing everything in the 2cm square ‘teabag’ ensures the surgeon can easily remove it at the end of the treatment period.

This really is great news.  Unfortunately, this was only part of  a clinical trial and it is an estimated 5 years before it will hit the “market” and be available to all.   Just for your information-  the Repair Stem Cell Institute currently lists 4 companies that are treating stroke patients NOW and from what I see have had a good share of success doing it too.

Click here for the full article

4 comments to “Adult Stem Cells Help Stroke Victim Recover!”

claudette, March 10th, 2009 at 12:19 am:

• I am 42 years old African-Canadian student, who on June10, 2008 suffered a stroke, by extension paralysis of my leaft hand. I had a blockage on the right part of my brain. I am 9 months post stroke. Sir, I have been reading for many months about proliferation of my own stem cells as a form of treatment. Would it be a safer alternative and would you deem it worthy of exploration? If yes have you heard of prodigious results rendered with this form of alternative, other than the above mentioned? If so can you tell me exactly how to proceed, and are you accepting patients for clinical trials?

Adult Stem Cells Help Stroke Victims « The Stem Cell Blog, April 21st, 2009 at 2:56 am:

• [...] after I covered this stem cell trial for stroke in Texas.  Also, earlier this year, I covered the stem cell tea bag which helped a German stroke victim as [...]

alex mercado, April 21st, 2009 at 6:52 am:

• My father suffered a severe hemorrhage stroke about 1 year ago and everything seems so helpless, even though my father is still alive today, he’s lost so much and is very disabled from it. It really hurts to see him the way he is now, I feel helpless and wish and dream everyday that someday somebody will be able to restore somewhat of normalcy back into his life and at least be able to watch him at home. I’ve heard of stem cell possibly helping my father, but can’t think of how to start the process emotionally and financially, cause I know it would be so expensive and could be too big of a risk. But honestly for me, it would be worth it to be able to have a conversation and see him walk at least with a walker than seeing him like this for the rest of his life…..it hurts me so much when I go see him at the convalescent home, it’s something I never thought I’d have to deal with, but reality struck quickly and painfully…..please help me, where should I go from here….

Karla Rydeen, April 24th, 2009 at 6:23 pm:

• My husband had a severe hemorrhage stroke 6 1/2 years ago, has some aphasia, some paralysis in right leg (can walk slowly w/cane), very little movement in right arm and we are researching anything that may help him recover. We are willing to participate in trials regarding stem cell therapies and when we find out all we need to know about traveling out of the U.S. for the real thing, may do that instead. He has a brilliant mind and needs more independence.

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