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By Lucy Williams, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Acute kidney failure is a potentially life-threatening condition. Previous therapies have been generally unsuccessful in treating the disease, but recent research reveals stem cell applications could protect and improve kidney function in patients.
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Acute renal failure occurs when the kidneys are suddenly unable to remove waste and concentrate urine. When kidney failure is caused by surgery or trauma, the survival outlook for patients is particularly grave.
"Acute renal failure is a common condition that affects up to 7 percent of hospitalized patients," lead author Lorenza Lazzari, Ph.D., of the Fondazione Policlinico in Milano, Italy, told Ivanhoe. "In intensive care units, mortality rate of the disease can be higher than 50 percent of patients."
New research reveals mesenchymal stem cells obtained from full-term umbilical cord blood have characteristics that can induce tissue repair and the development of bone and cartilage. These benefits can help patients recover faster and avoid long-term kidney complications associated with tissue damage.
Researchers in Italy treated mice with acute renal failure using either cord blood mesenchymal stem cells or a control solution of intravenous saline. The mice were evaluated for renal function and histology. Mice that received stem cell treatment had lower levels of blood urea nitrogen, a waste byproduct that indicates kidney malfunction. Stem cell-treated mice also demonstrated a reduction in renal tissue damage.
"We observed several renal parameters and saw we have less severe complications," Dr. Lazzari said. "The tubular renal structure of the animals treated with mesenchymal stem cells is comparable to normal ones [animals]."
Researchers think these preliminary results are promising for future treatment of patients with acute renal failure.
"One of our conclusions is we believe one of the possible clinical treatments for this disease could be cord blood mesenchymal stem cells," Dr. Lazzari said.
Further research is needed to determine whether mesenchymal stem cells would offer the same benefits to humans. According to Dr. Lazzari, human stem cells could offer patients a safer, more effective treatment for renal failure.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Lorenza Lazzari, Ph.D., of the Fondazione Policlinico in Milano, Italy; American Society of Hematology 48th Annual Meeting and Exposition Dec. 9-12, 2006, Orlando, Fla.
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