AFib and stem cell treatment

[snak3eyes]

Hello,

Has anyone tried stem cell therapy to cure their AFib ?

There's isn't much documentation on this topic out there and I don't understand why.

Lungs and heart absorb a lot of stem cells. It's known that those cells can regenerate damaged heart tissue.

[BobD Volunteer]

The only cases of stem cell therapy I heard of was an EP who was experimenting using such when implanting pacemaker leads to aid the anchor. This would have been about 12-14 years ago maybe but never heard of results.

[CDreamer]

Same as reply to a very similar post - as AF has many causes and in many people is more of a symptom of an underlying condition I think it more sensible to think of AF more of a condition which in many cases if you manage the underlying causes well, AF is ‘cured’.

All the reading I have ever done starts with that premise which makes sense so I don’t see how treating AF successfully but ignoring the underlying condition is going to work, simply because the AF will return. Eg: thyroid, hypertension, CVD, myocarditis, ANS - dysautonomnia, poor lifestyle - poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol and drug use, no or over exercising, stress etc etc.

[Bagrat]

That's interesting, but as AF itself is a conduction issue, I'm thinking stem cell treatment for physical heart disease would only treat things that have perhaps precipitated AF . Until we get better at pinpointing physical reasons for electrical malfunction I feel stem cell transplant would have limited application. Stem cell transplant is a very radical treatment I believe, arduous and not without its own risks.

[snak3eyes]

³//Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, please consult with your physician.

You all have valid points.

What I understand from my EP, 2 things must happen for Afib to trigger:1. the thin layer that conducts electricity across the heart muscle is damaged and 2. there is a rogue electrical signal (usually from the pulmonary veins).

The stem cell treatment can repair heart tissue, including the electrical layer, in which case the patient is healed.

But the underlying cause of why afib started in the first place it's still there so in time the electrical layer can again be damaged and afib will return.

Stem cell treatment can temporary fix afib. I don't know how long it takes for the heart tissue to get damaged again but when that happens, stem cells therapy can be repeated.

I wasn't sure about stem cells until a work buddy got some for his severe shoulder and joints pain from a motorbike accident. After just 2 day treatment where they gave him IV stem cells he noticed an improvement and gradually got to be pain-free and practicing boxing as a workout.

That being said, there are some heart conditions that cannot be cured with stem cell treatment but in the case of arrythmia, there is a chance, a hope that it can repair the heart electrical system.

That treatment is not cheap though...so it can be a huge financial loss if it doesn't pay back.

There is also the frustration that stem cell treatment is banned in many countries.