Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Posted: May 21, 2006
Summary:
Doctors say they were able to cure urinary incontinence in the vast majority of patients who were treated with injections of their own stem cells. The patients also had a dramatically improved quality of life
The researchers described the treatment as a cure, meaning that the patients did not need to wear pads after they were treated.
Some of the first patients to undergo the technique remained continent four years after the treatment.
A potential advantage to the stem cell treatment that it may need to be done only once, compared with the need for re-treatment with other injectable therapies. Also, a patient's own muscle cells can become a potential permanent rebuilding source of the sphincter muscle.
More testing will need to be performed and it could be years before it is available in the U.S.
Commentary: This research appears very promising. It underscores the need for federal funding of stem cell research, so more money is avialable to perform more tests simultaneously in order to eliminate errors, prevent fraud and share knowledge and research results in order to accelerate the development of a cure.
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