The prevalence of kidney diseases is a public health crisis. In the United States alone, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect 37 million people, with 90% not knowing that they have the condition. Worse, the 5-year survival rate of kidney failure is under 50%.
This survival rate can go up to 80% if the patient receives a transplant, but it usually takes three years to find an available donor match, and the procedure costs $200000. While waiting for a transplant, most patients undergo weekly dialysis, which still costs $80000 per year. Fortunately, stem cells are emerging as a promising tool for the treatment of kidney disease.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), through their ability to repair damaged tissues, are the body’s natural defense against kidney damage. When administered to a patient, they can protect the kidneys from injury and accelerate healing. The benefits of stem cell therapy for acute and chronic kidney diseases have already been demonstrated in many preclinical studies. Clinical trials have also shown that MSC transplantation to be safe for patients with kidney disease
