The Stem Cell Trekker » Dilated cardiomyopathy

Wash. State Man Needs $100K For German Stem Cell Treatment

Paul — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:02:53 +0000

A 23-year-old Bellingham, Wash., man suffering from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, a form of heart failure, hopes to raise $100,000 to travel to the Xcell Center in Düsseldorf, Germany, to receive treatments using stem cells harvested from his own body. Erik Gelhar believes the controversial therapy will stabilize his heart and forestall the need for a heart transplant. The treatments were recommended by his cardiologist, who was unable to figure out why Gelhar contracted the disorder. The procedure is not only unproven, it is not covered by insurance. “This is a young man who has not had a shot at life,” his cardiologist said.” I’m supporting him having a shot at life.”

By Kie Relyea, “Bellingham man tries to raise $100,000 for stem cell therapy in Germany to stabilize his heart”, September 25, 2009, © The Bellingham Herald

55-Year-Old Cardiomyopathy Patient Heads To Dominican Republic

Paul — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:12:13 +0000

A 55-year-old resident of The Villages, Fla., suffering from cardiomyopathy will be spending $64,000, half raised by friends and neighbors, to travel to the Dominican Republic for stem cell treatments. Her dream is to fix her serious heart problem – her heart is operating at 20% capacity – and see her youngest grandchild start kindergarten. The stem cell procedure by Fla. physician Zannos Grekos involves extraction and re-injection of her own stem cells, an experimental procedure that has not been approved in the United States. “Any time you do any kind of procedure with the heart, you have some kind of risk, and I understand that,” the patient said.

U.S. Heart Patient Sees Improvement After FDA-Approved Experimental Stem Cell Treatment

Paul — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:45:35 +0000

An Alexandria, Va. (USA), resident diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2007 underwent successful treatment using his own stem cells in an FDA-approved procedure that has improved his heart’s ability to pump blood and boosted his energy level for the first time in years. The patient agreed to try the stem cell procedure as part of a special Phase II test after heart catheterization, as well as pacemaker and defibrillator implants, failed to improve his condition. He was also rejected for a heart transplant. Physicians injected the patient’s own (autologous) specially-processed bone marrow-derived stem cells directly into the heart muscle. Researchers will monitor the patient’s condition, along with that of others in the test, for a year before expanding the testing to wider populations.

By David Dinsmore, “Patient No. 1: Alexandria man first to receive new stem cell heart treatment in U.S.”, August 25, 2009, © TheTowntalk.com (Alexandria, Va.)