Stem Cells in Cardiac Transplants: Pros & Cons

Today in the United States, congestive heart failure afflicts 4.8 million people, with 400,000 new cases each year. One of the major contributors to the development of this condition is a heart attack which occurs in nearly 1.1 million Americans each year. It is easy to recognize that impairments of the heart and circulatory system represent a major cause of death and disability in the United States [1]. Heart attacks and congestive heart failure remain among the word most prominent health challenges. Recent research is providing promising results that adult and embryonic stem cells may be able to replace damaged heart muscle cells and establish new blood vessels. For those suffering from common, but deadly, heart diseases, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine represents a new medical frontier [2].