Regenerate. Repair. Restore.

Stem Cells Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease, also called heart disease, is a broad medical term used to describe a group of conditions that affect the blood vessels or the heart. It is the most common cause of death worldwide.¹

Conditions of cardiovascular disease include:

coronary artery disease (CAD)
valvular heart disease
cardiomyopathy
congenital heart disease
myocardial infarction (heart attack, MI)
ischemic stroke
heart failure

hypertensive heart disease
heart arrhythmia
carditis
aortic aneurysms
peripheral artery disease (PAD)
thromboembolic disease
venous thrombosis

The Stem Cells Transplant Institute in Costa Rica, recommends the use of adult mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of cardiovascular disease (heart disease).

Treatment at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute could help improve the symptoms of cardiovascular disease.

The symptoms of cardiovascular disease will depend on the specific type of heart disease but can include:

Chest pain also called angina
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Nausea
Irregular heartbeat; racing or slow heartbeat (tachycardia, bradycardia)
Fluttering in your chest

Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting (syncope)
Shortness of breath
Edema or swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet
Fatigue
Dry or persistent cough

How can stem cell therapy improve the symptoms of cardiovascular disease?

“Notably, adult stem and progenitor cells including….mesenchymal stem cells have progressed into clinical trials and have shown positive benefits.”⁵

Stem cell transplantation uses healthy cells to promote the repair of damaged cells and regeneration of healthy and functional cells to repair injured tissue.¹

The therapeutic effect of stem cell transplantation in patients with cardiovascular disease may be due to the paracrine effect.

The theory is, transplanted stem cells repair damaged tissue by releasing factors that promote regeneration of healthy stem cells, reduce inflammation, promote the growth of new blood vessels, inhibit cell death, and reduce hypertrophy.¹

What are scientists researching?

According to Clincialtrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov), currently there are more than 1,130 clinical trials evaluating stem cell therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

The results of initial research using mesenchymal stem cell transplantation are provided below.

Myocardial Infarction (Heart attack, MI)^1,5,8

Improved left ventricular function
Improved myocardial perfusion
Improved quality of life

Heart Failure

Improved ventricular remodeling
Improved functional capacity
Improved quality of life

Ischemic stroke¹

Improved cardiac function

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)^5-7

Improved limb function
Reduced autoamputation
Reduce muscle atrophy
Reduce the thickening or scarring of connective tissue

Mesenchymal stem cells

improve left ventricular function
promote angiogenesis,
lower fibrosis, and decrease inflammation.

Several months following treatment, stem cells continue to migrate to the heart muscle regenerating and renewing healthy heart function.

Stem cell therapy cannot help all patients with cardiovascular disease but for many patients stem cell therapy combined with lifestyle modification may be a safe, effective, non-surgical alternative treatment.

Lifestyle changes that can help improve cardiovascular disease include:

Quit smoking
Following a healthy diet low in salt and saturated fat
Maintain a healthy weight
Daily exercise and control high blood pressure
Control diabetes and high cholesterol
Practice good hygiene

What is the treatment protocol for cardiovascular disease at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute?

For optimal results, the Stem Cells Transplant Institute recommends the use of hUC-MSCs for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

If the patient prefers, autologous mesenchymal stem cells derived from the patient’s own adipose tissue and bone marrow, can also be used to treat cardiovascular disease.

Treatment includes:

1cc vial of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord blood or bone marrow and adipose derived, autologous mesenchymal stem cells
Antioxidant therapy with vitamin C and glutathione
Ozone therapy
Platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP)

What are the advantages of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells?

Abundant supply containing up to 10 times more stem cells than bone marrow or adipose derived stem cells
hUC-MSC have immunosuppressors and immunomodulatory properties that allow their use in any individual without rejection- Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) matching is not necessary
Greater proliferation ability than adult autologous stem cells
They regenerate at a very rapid rate
They have not been impacted by the aging process
They have not been affected by environmental toxins
Umbilical cord stem cells can be administered multiple times over the course of days
Eliminates the need to collect stem cells from the patient’s fat or hip bone reducing pain and recovery time

umbilical cord donations

Intravenus Administration

How Are the Stem Cells Collected?

Our clinic focuses on obtaining healthy stem cells exclusively from umbilical cord blood donors. We collect the placenta once the baby is born, with the parent’s informed consent. Additionally, we follow strict ethical guidelines and collect stem cells from reliable and reputable sources.

How Are the Stem Cells Administered?

Our nursing staff administers the stem cells through an intravenous and intra-pulmonary route. For the most effective outcomes, intravenous administration is preferred.

About the Stem Cells Transplant Institute

Our clinic is located in Costa Rica, which is one of the most popular medical tourism destinations for stem cell therapy. At the Stem Cells Transplant Institute, we have a skilled team of doctors and medical professionals who collect and administer stem cells to treat autism and other conditions. Every patient receives the most cost-effective and top-notch care from our dedicated team.

Scientific References:

Sun R.Advances in stem cell therapy for cardiovascular disease (Review). National Journal of Mol. Med. 38: 23-29, 2016.
Hare JM, Fishman JE, Gerstenblith G, DiFede Velazquez DL, Zambrano JP, Suncion VY, Tracy M, Ghersin E, Johnston PV, Brinker JA, et al: Comparison of allogeneic vs autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells delivered by transendocardial injection in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: the POSEIDON randomized trial. JAMA 308: 2369-2379, 2012.
Miyahara Y, Nagaya N, Kataoka M, Yanagawa B, Tanaka K, Hao H, Ishino K, Ishida H, Shimizu T, Kangawa K, et al: Monolayered mesenchymal stem cells repair scarred myocardium after myocardial infarction. Nat Med 12: 459-465, 2006.
Mazo M, Planat-Bénard V, Abizanda G, Pelacho B, Léobon B, Gavira JJ, Peñuelas I, Cemborain A, Pénicaud L, Laharrague P, et al: Transplantation of adipose derived stromal cells is associated with functional improvement in a rat model of chronic myocardial infarction. Eur J Heart Fail 10: 454-462, 2008.
Stem cell-based therapies to promote angiogenesis in ischemic cardiovascular disease Luqia Hou,1,2 Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 310: H455–H465, 2016.
Kinnaird T, Stabile E, Burnett MS, Lee CW, Barr S, Fuchs S, Epstein SE. Marrow-derived stromal cells express genes encoding a broad spectrum of arteriogenic cytokines and promote in vitro and in vivo arteriogenesis through paracrine mechanisms. Circ Res 94: 678–685, 2004.
Kinnaird T, Stabile E, Burnett MS, Shou M, Lee CW, Barr S, Fuchs S, Epstein SE. Local delivery of marrow-derived stromal cells augments collateral perfusion through paracrine mechanisms. Circulation 109: 1543–1549, 2004.
Hare JM, Fishman JE, Gerstenblith G, DiFede Velazquez DL, Zambrano JP, Suncion VY, Tracy M, Ghersin E, Johnston PV, Brinker JA, Breton E, Davis-Sproul J, Schulman IH, Byrnes J, Mendizabal AM, Lowery MH, Rouy D, Altman P, Wong Po Foo C, Ruiz P, Amador A, Da Silva J, McNiece IK, Heldman AW, George R, Lardo A. Comparison of allogeneic vs autologous bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells delivered by transendocardial injection in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: the POSEIDON randomized trial. <em “>JAMA 308: 2369–2379, 2012.