Nutrition and Fitness Health Home>>Nutrition and Fitness>>Health news Written by: Kelly Roche, Ottawa Sun Sep. 6, 2013 From left, Dr. Duncan Stewart, lead principal investigator of the ENACT-AMI stem cell therapy trial, Harriet Garrow, who is part of a stem cell trial and her husband Peter Garrow during a press conference at the Ottawa Hospital General Campus September 5, 2013. (QMI Agency)
OTTAWA -- A massive heart attack prompted Harriet Garrow to become the first patient participating in a groundbreaking clinical trial headquartered in the nation's capital.
"I am thrilled to play a part in this research," said Garrow, 68, of Cornwall, Ont.
Using a patient's own stem cells -- extracted from their blood shortly following a major heart attack -- to regenerate the damaged organ, Enhanced Angiogenic Cell Therapy-Acute Myocardial Infarction is a promising game-changer.
Cells are enhanced then infused back into the patient's heart using special catheters.
Stem cells have "incredible potential to repair and regenerate damaged organs," although cells from heart patients don't have the same healing abilities as those from healthy young adults, Stewart said.
Whether the procedure is replacing damaged cells or helping damaged cells recover is anyone's guess.
Nonetheless, "we know that if we improve the function of the heart, we improve the patient's survival and we improve how well the patient feels -- reduce their symptoms of shortness of breath or chest pain -- and hopefully we make them live longer and live better," said Dr. Chris Glover, one of Garrow's physicians.
It's unknown which group Garrow was in: those receiving a placebo, genetically enhanced stem cells, or non-enhanced stem cells.
That may be revealed at the end of the study, which could take three years, Stewart said.