Stem Cells

I am so excited that President Obama is lifting the ban on stem cell research! Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell. Stem cell transplants have helped several people with scleroderma improve their quality of life. I have always thought that a stem cell transplant would be my saving grace. But, according to my doctors, this is not to be. Pulmonary Hypertension has made a stem cell transplant impossible for me. My next option, I thought, was a heart/lung transplant. I am not sure I would go through the process, but I did think it was an option. But my doctors say that my age, pulmonary hypertension and other things make a heart/lung transplant not an option for me. It is possible that I may be able to undergo a lung transplant. Lung Transplants, in most cases, are the last resort. This is due to it being a very invasive procedure and requires a lung donor. This procedure is also extremely expensive compared to other treatments. Patients with pulmonary insufficiency due to scleroderma have long been considered suboptimal candidates for lung transplantation. In recent studies, patients with scleroderma who are recipients of lung transplantation experience similar rates of survival 2 years after the procedure compared with those with IPF or IPAH. In carefully selected patients with scleroderma who have end-stage lung disease, lung transplantation may be a valid life-saving therapeutic option. My dose of Letaris has been upped to 10mg as of last week. After five months on Letaris, I haven’t seen any relief from my breathing problems. This is discouraging as results can usually be seen after three months. I have a sinus infection that may be the result of a side effect of letaris (sinusitis, nose congestion) or a cold I had two weeks ago. I have emailed my doctors to see what they think. Brian is doing better with his depression. The hope that a cure will be found is fueling his optimism now and I keep encouraging that hope as it is very real.