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Question:

How long until stem cell therapy will be available for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy? 
submitted by Tom from Jal, NM, 9/9/08

I was diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in '97 in Arlington TX. Have moved to rural NM. I am 45 and very stable. Lead normal life, very active. How long until stem cell therapy will be available for me?

Answer:  
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Mehdi Razavi, MD

Current clinical studies of stem cells are focusing on those patients with ischemic cardiomyopathies. That is, those patients whose weakness of heart muscle is due to blockages of arteries. There are, to my knowledge, no current studies for those patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (weakness of heart muscle due to other causes). The length of time before such studies are initiated is unknown but may well depend on the results of the current studies.

See also on this site: 

• Stem Cell Center
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart Information Center
  

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Updated September 2008