Successful Transplant of Human Embryonic Stem Cells in a Baby
The National Center for Child Health and Development (Tokyo Japan) announced a successful “bridge” treatment using stem cells to correct a liver problem in a baby: “The patient in this clinical trial was a 6-day-old baby suffering from urea cycle disorder, preventing it from decomposing toxic ammonia. This clinical trial was a hepatocyte transplantation in which hepatocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells (ES cells) were injected into the blood vessels of the liver and was performed as a “bridge treatment” until the patient was able to undergo a liver transplant safely, at the age of 3 to 5 months after birth (weighing approximately 6 kg). Following the hepatocyte transplantation, the patient did not see an increase in blood ammonia concentration and was able to successfully complete the next treatment, a liver transplantation.” MORE
Image Credit: National Center for Child Health and Development