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Medical Minute 11-6: Risking It All On Stem Cells
It's been called the next big thing in medicine, but stem cell treatment is still in its infancy. Some patients say they don't have time to wait for the studies, so they're ready to risk it all on a controversial transplant. But is that a good idea?
One Florida cardiologist claims to do what no one else can.
"We're able to increase heart function in patients who suffered major heart attacks," said Zannos Grekos, M.D. Director Cardiac and Vascular Service.
Doctor Grekos is the man behind a stem cell therapy that has patients and their cells flying around the world.
First, the patient's blood is sent to an Israeli lab. There, Doctor Grekos says scientists extract, grow and activate stem cells t hat target specific organs.
"We grow them in a special culture medium that includes growth factors that tell the stem cell what to become," he said.
For $64,000, patients meet up with their stem cells in the Dominican Republic and have a transplant that is not approved in the U.S.
"That tends to be the case with the U.S. and the FDA: Many things lag behind," said Zannos Grekos, M.D.
"This is not even off-label, and unfortunately it's not even experimental. These patients are being charged an enormous amount of money for a therapy that's unproven," said Cam Patterson, M.D., Director of Cardiology UNC Chapel Hill, N.C.
Howard Lindeman says the proof is how he feels. He has coronary artery disease.
The recording engineer who toured the world with the rich and famous was out of options. Six months after surgery, tests from Doctor Grekos show his heart's pumping capacity went from 39% to 62%.
"Keep in mind that the placebo effect is very powerful," said Cam Patterson, M.D.
The I-S-S-C-R warns patients to look out for stem cells that treat multiple conditions, high costs and no clear studies or documents showing results.
"When we collect all our data and have compiled it, we are going to pursue FDA trials," said Zannos Grekos, M.D.
"It's a scam. I don't see any other way to characterize this," said Cam Patterson, M.D.
A treatment ahead of its time, or too good to be true? While doctors debate, some patients take their health into their own hands.
For more information: Ivanhoe Broadcast News2745 W. Fairbanks Ave.Winter Park, FL 32789 http://www.ivanhoe.com Melissa Medalie, Supervising Producer Medical News mmedalie@ivanhoe.com Direct Line: (407) 691-1516Viewer Line: (407) 740-0789 ext. 579
It's been called the next big thing in medicine, but stem cell treatment is still in its infancy. Some patients say they don't have time to wait for the studies, so they're ready to risk it all on a controversial transplant. But is that a good idea?
One Florida cardiologist claims to do what no one else can.
"We're able to increase heart function in patients who suffered major heart attacks," said Zannos Grekos, M.D. Director Cardiac and Vascular Service.
Doctor Grekos is the man behind a stem cell therapy that has patients and their cells flying around the world.
First, the patient's blood is sent to an Israeli lab. There, Doctor Grekos says scientists extract, grow and activate stem cells t hat target specific organs.
"We grow them in a special culture medium that includes growth factors that tell the stem cell what to become," he said.
For $64,000, patients meet up with their stem cells in the Dominican Republic and have a transplant that is not approved in the U.S.
"That tends to be the case with the U.S. and the FDA: Many things lag behind," said Zannos Grekos, M.D.
"This is not even off-label, and unfortunately it's not even experimental. These patients are being charged an enormous amount of money for a therapy that's unproven," said Cam Patterson, M.D., Director of Cardiology UNC Chapel Hill, N.C.
Howard Lindeman says the proof is how he feels. He has coronary artery disease.
The recording engineer who toured the world with the rich and famous was out of options. Six months after surgery, tests from Doctor Grekos show his heart's pumping capacity went from 39% to 62%.
"Keep in mind that the placebo effect is very powerful," said Cam Patterson, M.D.
The I-S-S-C-R warns patients to look out for stem cells that treat multiple conditions, high costs and no clear studies or documents showing results.
"When we collect all our data and have compiled it, we are going to pursue FDA trials," said Zannos Grekos, M.D.
"It's a scam. I don't see any other way to characterize this," said Cam Patterson, M.D.
A treatment ahead of its time, or too good to be true? While doctors debate, some patients take their health into their own hands.
For more information: Ivanhoe Broadcast News2745 W. Fairbanks Ave.Winter Park, FL 32789 http://www.ivanhoe.com Melissa Medalie, Supervising Producer Medical News mmedalie@ivanhoe.com Direct Line: (407) 691-1516Viewer Line: (407) 740-0789 ext. 579