Stem Cells from Stroke Victim Being Used for First
Time to Repair Patients Own Damage
Roland "Bud " Henrich, 61, is the
first stroke patient to receive his own stem cells.
Texan has fed the cows by himself. Stem cells have
some kind of guidance system and migrate to the area of injury and,
although they're not making new brain cells, they may be enhancing the
repair processes. UT Houston to enroll 9 more in clinical trial.
April 16, 2009 - For the first time in the United
States, a stroke patient 61-year-old Roland Bud Henrich - has been
intravenously injected with his own bone marrow stem cells as part of a
research trial at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. It
is an event of high interest to senior citizens, since three of every
four strokes in the US strikes those age 65 or older.
Henrich, was transferred to Memorial Hermann
Texas Medical Center on March 25 after suffering a stroke while working
on his farm in Liberty, Texas. He arrived too late to receive tissue
plasminogen activator (tPA), the only treatment for ischemic strokes. He
became the first patient in a new trial.
The Phase I safety trial, funded with a pilot grant
from The National Institutes of Health and support from the Notsew Orm
Sands Foundation, will enroll nine more patients who have suffered a
stroke and can be treated with the stem cell procedure within 24 to 72
hours of initial symptoms.
Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is
interrupted by a blockage or a rupture in an artery, depriving brain
tissue of oxygen. It is the third-leading cause of death behind heart
disease and cancer.
Stroke Facts
(Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
Stroke is the third
leading cause of death in the United States. Over 143,579 people die
each year from stroke in the United States.
● Stroke is a
leading cause of serious long-term disability.
● About 795,000
strokes occur in the United States each year. About 610,000 of these are
first or new strokes. About 185,000 occur in people who have already had
a stroke before.
● Nearly
three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65. The
risk of having a stroke more than doubles each decade after the age of
55.
● Strokes canand
dooccur at ANY age. Nearly one quarter of strokes occur in people under
the age of 65.
● Stroke death rates
are higher for African Americans than for whites, even at younger ages.
● According to the
American Heart Association, stroke will cost almost $68.9 billion in
both direct and indirect costs in 2009 (American Heart Association.
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics2009 Update. American Heart
Association; 2009.)
● It has been noted for several decades that the southeastern United
States has the highest stroke mortality rates in the country. It is not
completely clear what factors might contribute to the higher incidence
of and mortality from stroke in this region.
According to the American Stroke Association, nearly
800,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year one every 40 seconds. On
average, someone dies of stroke every three to four minutes.
"It's still very early in this safety study, but
this could be an exciting new therapeutic approach for people who have
just suffered a stroke," said Sean Savitz, M.D., assistant professor of
neurology at the medical school and the study's lead investigator.
"Animal studies have shown that when you administer
stem cells after stroke, the cells enhance the healing. We know that
stem cells have some kind of guidance system and migrate to the area of
injury. They're not making new brain cells but they may be enhancing the
repair processes and reducing inflammatory damage."
Savitz said animal studies have shown that the
healing effects of stem cells can occur as early as a week but cautioned
it is too early to attribute Henrich's improvement to the stem cell
treatment.
"I'm hoping he will get better and it will be
because of the cells, but it's just hope at this point," Savitz said.
The stem cells were harvested from the bone marrow
in the iliac crest of his leg, then separated and returned to Henrich
several hours later. Because they are his own stem cells, rejection is
not expected to be an issue.
When he arrived at the hospital, Henrich could not
speak and had significant weakness on his right side. When he was
released after nearly two weeks of hospitalization and rehabilitation,
he was able to walk and climb stairs unassisted and said his first
words.
His wife, Reba Henrich, said she believes the stem
cells have helped. He has spoken a few times with a single word or a
phrase since his return home.
"Too crowded," he told her at a megastore as they
shopped for Easter gifts for their grandchildren and "senior" meal he
told a waitress at a local restaurant. He also has fed the cows by
himself, she said. They are hopeful he will eventually be able to return
to his job as a painter.
"This study is the critical first step in
translating laboratory work with stem cells into benefit for patients.
If effective, this treatment could be helpful to a huge segment of
stroke patients to reduce their disability," said James C. Grotta, M.D.,
Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Distinguished Professor of Neurology
and chair of the Department of Neurology at the medical school.
"We are fortunate here at UT Houston and the Texas
Medical Center to have the resources needed to carry out this work, and
to have attracted someone of Dr. Savitz's caliber to lead this study."
Note:
The study is only open to patients who are admitted
to the Emergency Center at Memorial Hermann TMC or through the UT
Stroke Team with symptoms of an immediate stroke.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
