First Ever 3D Printed Thyroid Gland

[adin]

Maybe , in a short period of time(in a few years) we will be able to fix our suffering thyroid using a printer....interesting article;

3dprint.com/54159/3d-printe...

[Hidden]

Really interesting article. Once transplanted (in humans in the future) I wonder what they can do to prevent auto-immune destruction of the 3D printed gland? They mentioned cancer but that's different to auto-immune.

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

EpicSwan, immunosuppressants?

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Clutter, I wonder why they don't offer immunosuppressants to prevent destruction/further destruction to the gland you're born with. Or maybe it's too late by the time a diagnosis is made? By the way, I think it's a great development.

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

EpicSwan, Immunosuppressants are used to manage some autoimmune diseases and to prevent transplant organ rejection but the downside is that patients succumb to infection easily when the immune system is suppressed.

Gene research has identified genes which may switch on causing autoimmune disease. However switching off those genes has been shown to switch on/off other genes and effects must be investigated before gene therapy is likely to be realised.

[Clutter]

Adin, I discussed 3D printed thyroid with my thyroid surgeon last year. He thought they would be inserted under the skin in the arm similar to the way parathyroid glands are currently transplanted.

[adin]

Interesting opinion of your doctor Clutter, I never heard until now about future 3D Thyroid Gland and I've found cool :))

EpicSwan, I do not think will be needed immunosuppressants because the thyroid tissue will build from their own stem cells.

(sorry for my english)

[Clutter in reply to adin]

Adin, Stem cell transplant will be okay for the 10% non-autoimmune hypothyroid patients but the majority have autoimmune hypothyroidism which means the transplanted thyroid cells are likely to be attacked.

[adin]

Clutter, you're right , I have not thought about it...

I have a question Clutter, if I take too much ndt(nathure troid), I"ve noticed I get a skin rash, Why...

Is this normal?