CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Stem cells are unspecialized cells with the unique ability to become any type of cell in the body, in a process called ‘differentiation’. When supplied to a patient’s body, these cells migrate to dead or damaged tissue, where they orchestrate repair and regeneration. When provided to COPD patients, MSCs may be able to repair and regenerate damaged lung tissue; furthermore, MSCs have natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate the inflammation that exacerbates COPD. While stem cell treatment for COPD is still in the early stages of development, there is already promising research that suggests that stem cell therapy may help with the disease. In a report called ‘Autologous Stem Cell Therapy & its Effects on COPD’, researchers at the Lung Health Institute found that over 82% of patients that attempted stem cell treatment experienced noticeable improvements in quality of life. Many patients reported increased lung capacity and the recovery of the ability to walk, following treatment. While stem cell treatment remains unable to ‘cure’ COPD it is able to repair damaged tissue while staying relatively non-invasive. This attractive new treatment becomes even more desirable when you consider that current treatment protocols may require the use of ventilators, or even total lung transplants which are rare and extremely expensive.