Doctors in Miami have just performed a life-saving surgery on a 4-month old baby with a rare heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. This procedure uses stem cells to help the heart repair itself and grow larger.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a very rare birth defect that affects how blood flows through the heart. The condition causes the left side of the heart to not develop correctly. It can affect multiple structures including the left ventricle, mitral vales, aortic valve, and descending portion of the aorta. It can also cause an atrial septal defect, which is a small hole between the left and right chambers of the heart.
The right side of the heart is responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood around the body, while the left side of the heart pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. If the left side of the heart is not functioning correctly, it is difficult to get enough oxygen rich blood to sustain the body. Babies born with this condition will have problems breathing, a weak pulse, a pounding heart and ashen or bluish skin.
The current treatment for this condition is a series of three surgeries, which are performed at birth, at about four months and at two or three years of age. Unfortunately, even with the surgery, 60% of children die before they turn five.
This new stem cell treatment promises to deliver better outcomes for children. The doctors use stem cells derived from a donor’s bone marrow. Once injected into the baby’s heart, they will reduce scar tissue, reduce inflammation, promote new small vessels and stimulate the heart to grow.
The most recent surgery performed in Miami was on a baby named Autumn Brown. She is one of 10 babies enrolled in a study that is testing the efficacy and safety of this treatment. Another 20 babies will be enrolled in the future at hospitals around the country. About 950 babies are born with this condition each year. If the study is successful, it could save the lives of hundreds of babies.
Source: Stem cells could boost this Maryland baby’s heart and chance for a normal life
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