 Stem cell saves diabetic's limb
A private hospital in Chennai has saved a diabetic, suffering from critical limb ischemia, the loss of a lower limb, by bone marrow stem cell treatment.
"The 68-year-old woman, hailing from Andhra Pradesh and suffering from critical ischemia, with a very large ulcer at the left calf and foot and advised amputation of the left
lower limb, successfully underwent autologous (one's own) bone marrow stem cell treatment at the vascular department of Chennai's Vijaya Hospital," the hospital's chief
vascular surgeon, Dr S R Subrammaniyan, said recently.
He said the woman's ulcer healed in 60 days. A new blood vessel formation improved circulation to the affected leg.
Stating that bypass surgery to salvage the limb was ruled out due to the advanced condition, Subrammaniyan, who was assisted by a team of doctors, said the patient's
bone marrow was tapped under general anaesthesia and was injected into the affected portion of the woman's calf muscle. A month later, the dose of 100 ml of bone marrow
was repeated.
The healing process commenced very rapidly and health granulation started covering the previously ischemic portion, he said, adding that close to 40 per cent of the foot
area, 20 per cent of the calf area and 100 per cent of the lateral wound had been covered with skin. The remaining portion was treated with skin grafting and could
successfully heal. "The patient is now able to use her left foot," he said.
Stating that the treatment alone would cost about Rs 50,000, he claimed that by 2015 about 20 per cent of the country's population would be diabetics.
(Agencies)
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