Stem cell therapy may help improve symptoms associated with RA and COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by inflammation in the lungs but studies have also shown a link between systemic inflammation and COPD. Understanding this link led investigators to ask if patients with chronic inflammatory disease are at an increased risk of developing COPD.
Researchers in British Columbia, Canada evaluated the number of COPD hospitalizations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and compared this number to the number of COPD hospitalizations in the general population.
Patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis between January 1996 and December 2006 were included in the study. The control group was randomly selected and matched 1:1 to the rheumatoid arthritis cases on year of birth, sex and index year. A COPD hospitalization was defined using the primary hospital admitting code for COPD. The study cohort included 24,625 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and 25,396 control patients. After adjusting for possible confounding variables, researchers found patients with rheumatoid arthritis had a 47% greater risk of hospitalization due to COPD than the general population.1
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium, the healthy tissue surrounding the joints. This attack creates systemic inflammation that thickens the synovium, eventually destroying the cartilage and bone within the joint. RA increases your risk of other serious health problems including; cardiovascular disease, lymphoma, obesity and osteoporosis. Based on the study results from British Columbia, rheumatoid arthritis may also increase your risk of COPD.
The Stem Cells Transplant Institute in Costa Rica uses government approved stem cell therapy to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Stem cell therapy for rheumatoid arthritis has been found to be safe and potentially effective at relieving symptoms.2,3 Two clinical trials evaluated the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells in 225 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients treated with mesenchymal stem cells had beneficial reductions in their symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and did better than patients in the control arms.2,4,5
What is COPD?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD, is a medical term used to describe a group of chronic, inflammatory lung diseases including; emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory asthma and bronchiectasis. Air travels down your windpipe into your lungs through tubes (bronchi). These tubes divide into smaller tubes and at the end of these smaller tubes (bronchioles) are air sacs (alveoli). Emphysema slowly destroys the air sacs, which interferes with the outward flow of air, while bronchitis causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes, allowing mucus to build up. Your lungs rely on the natural elasticity of the bronchial tubes and air sacs to force air out of your body. COPD causes them to lose their elasticity, leaving some air trapped in your lungs when you exhale. Symptoms of COPD include:
- Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Excess mucus in your lungs
- Chronic cough
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Lack of energy
- Swelling in ankles, feet or legs
Stem cell treatment at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute, along with lifestyle modification may improve the symptoms of COPD. The hallmark of COPD is chronic pulmonary and systemic inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells modulate the immune system and decrease inflammation, improving lung function. Stem cell treatment increases your respiratory capacity and breathing improves over a period of several weeks.
Costa Rica has one of the best healthcare systems in world and is ranked among the highest for medical tourism. Using the most advanced technologies, the team of experts at The Stem Cells Transplant Institute believes in the potential of stem cell therapy for the treatment of COPD and RA. We are committed to providing personalized service and the highest quality of care to every patient. Contact us today to see if stem cell therapy is right for you.
