Pulmonary Hypertension Treated with Stem Cells : International Medical Team Announces Patient Results in Adult Stem Cell Clinical Study for Pulmonary Hyp...( Dr. Leonel F...),Health

Dr. Leonel Fernandez Liriano, Professor of Medicine at Pontifical Catholic University School of Medicine (PCUSM), announced nine month follow up results for the first patient treated with engineered stem cells in a clinical study of primary pulmonary hypertension. The stem cells are extracted from patients’ own blood and trained to become new blood vessels.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Business Wire EON) November 25, 2008 -- Zannos Grekos, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Cardiology at Nova Southeastern University and head of the international team that developed the stem cell treatment protocol, says, "It goes against traditional theory that we should try to fix the existing pulmonary vasculature, but we are generating new blood vessels with impressive results." According to Grekos, the clinical study is a collaborative effort amongst physicians at Regenocyte Therapeutic, a Florida-based stem cell clinic; researchers from TheraVitae, a biotechnology company in Tel Aviv, Israel; and physicians from Regenocyte's Dominican Republic division. The patient's base line and follow up testing is being conducted in part by Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.

Patient Karl Wagner, age 46 of Macon, Georgia, underwent the Adult Stem Cell therapy in February 2008. Wagner says since being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, he was on a rapid decline. "I was being managed by medication, but still had violent chest pains, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue, and severe shortness of breath…I could barely do anything with my daughters and was on oxygen almost all the time. Doctors at Mayo Clinic gave me a three year prognosis."

• Hctor Jos Rosario, Professor of Cardiology at PCUSM and Director of Cardiovascular Therapy for Regenocyte's Domini
  '/>"/>