[Interview] Eugenio Caradonna, President of the Italian Regenerative Medicine Association
Eugenio Caradonna, President of the Italian Regenerative Medicine Association, remarked, “PRP therapy has demonstrated efficacy in various conditions and is increasingly being applied in cardiac surgery. It is also expected to continue expanding in orthopedics, particularly in the treatment of osteoarthritis.”
In Korea, acute myocardial infarction patients receiving autologous peripheral blood stem cell therapy at Seoul National University Hospital have been eligible for temporary health insurance coverage since August last year, marking a significant milestone in incorporating stem cell therapy into innovative healthcare. We spoke with Dr. Caradonna, an expert in cardiac regenerative medicine, to explore the current state of stem cell therapy.
Dr. Caradonna has been a prominent cardiac surgeon since 1974, with over 110 publications in international journals and regular lectures at global academic conferences.
What are the primary research areas of the Italian Regenerative Medicine Association?
Regenerative medicine encompasses a wide range of disciplines analyzing biological data, including stem cells. Our association focuses on stem cells, biotechnology, and biomaterials to advance regenerative medicine and surgical practices.
How are autologous stem cells used in cardiac surgery?
Stem cells hold potential for treating challenging conditions such as angina, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. For instance, the transplantation of bone marrow stem cells (via coronary arteries or directly into myocardial tissue) has shown some positive effects in chronic ischemic heart disease. However, the field still requires further clinical research to optimize bone marrow harvesting, cell count, and transplantation methods.
Research into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), cardiac stem cells (CSCs), and skeletal myoblasts also needs to progress to establish their role in cardiac therapy.
Which types of autologous stem cells are most commonly used in cardiac surgery?
The most common type used in cardiac surgery is bone marrow-derived stem cells. These cells are integral to the natural healing process post-myocardial infarction and are part of the “bone marrow-cardiac axis.”
How is PRP therapy applied in cardiac surgery?
PRP therapy is essential in certain cardiac procedures, particularly for addressing complications such as sternal wound infections, which occur in 0.2–8% of cases after median sternotomy. Using PRP significantly reduces the risk and cost of such complications. PRP is particularly beneficial for high-risk patients, including those with diabetes, bilateral thoracic artery harvesting, or advanced age.
Recent studies highlight the combination of cells with growth factors derived from PRP or within biomaterials, opening new avenues for myocardial infarction treatment.
Despite its benefits, PRP therapy faces some skepticism. What is your view?
PRP is extracted from the patient’s blood using two rounds of centrifugation to concentrate platelets. While the method of extraction can impact results, PRP’s efficacy is well-established through clinical trials and meta-analyses in pathology. PRP therapy, when conducted under sterile conditions, has proven effective across fields like dentistry, dermatology, plastic surgery, and orthopedics. It has also demonstrated superior outcomes over hyaluronic acid in treating knee osteoarthritis.
However, PRP therapy is not recommended for cardiac surgery patients with thrombocytopenia (<100,000/μL), platelet disorders, cancer, or autoimmune diseases.
How important are kits in PRP therapy?
Kits play a critical role in ensuring sterile platelet separation and concentration. For instance, REV-MED’s TriCell PRP Kit, produced in Korea, enables two rounds of centrifugation in a single step, ensuring safety and reducing contamination risks compared to other kits.
What are the future prospects for PRP therapy?
PRP therapy is expanding rapidly in cardiac medicine and is already being applied for conditions like femoral head necrosis. Its scope in orthopedics, especially for osteoarthritis, is expected to grow significantly as research advances. Its minimal risk profile and broad applicability position it as a cornerstone treatment in regenerative medicine.
Source : HealthTrends (http://www.k-health.com)
[Interview] Eugenio Caradonna, President of the Italian Regenerative Medicine Association
Eugenio Caradonna, President of the Italian Regenerative Medicine Association, remarked, “PRP therapy has demonstrated efficacy in various conditions and is increasingly being applied in cardiac surgery. It is also expected to continue expanding in orthopedics, particularly in the treatment of osteoarthritis.”
In Korea, acute myocardial infarction patients receiving autologous peripheral blood stem cell therapy at Seoul National University Hospital have been eligible for temporary health insurance coverage since August last year, marking a significant milestone in incorporating stem cell therapy into innovative healthcare. We spoke with Dr. Caradonna, an expert in cardiac regenerative medicine, to explore the current state of stem cell therapy.
Dr. Caradonna has been a prominent cardiac surgeon since 1974, with over 110 publications in international journals and regular lectures at global academic conferences.
What are the primary research areas of the Italian Regenerative Medicine Association?
Regenerative medicine encompasses a wide range of disciplines analyzing biological data, including stem cells. Our association focuses on stem cells, biotechnology, and biomaterials to advance regenerative medicine and surgical practices.
How are autologous stem cells used in cardiac surgery?
Stem cells hold potential for treating challenging conditions such as angina, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. For instance, the transplantation of bone marrow stem cells (via coronary arteries or directly into myocardial tissue) has shown some positive effects in chronic ischemic heart disease. However, the field still requires further clinical research to optimize bone marrow harvesting, cell count, and transplantation methods.
Research into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), cardiac stem cells (CSCs), and skeletal myoblasts also needs to progress to establish their role in cardiac therapy.
Which types of autologous stem cells are most commonly used in cardiac surgery?
The most common type used in cardiac surgery is bone marrow-derived stem cells. These cells are integral to the natural healing process post-myocardial infarction and are part of the “bone marrow-cardiac axis.”
How is PRP therapy applied in cardiac surgery?
PRP therapy is essential in certain cardiac procedures, particularly for addressing complications such as sternal wound infections, which occur in 0.2–8% of cases after median sternotomy. Using PRP significantly reduces the risk and cost of such complications. PRP is particularly beneficial for high-risk patients, including those with diabetes, bilateral thoracic artery harvesting, or advanced age.
Recent studies highlight the combination of cells with growth factors derived from PRP or within biomaterials, opening new avenues for myocardial infarction treatment.
Despite its benefits, PRP therapy faces some skepticism. What is your view?
PRP is extracted from the patient’s blood using two rounds of centrifugation to concentrate platelets. While the method of extraction can impact results, PRP’s efficacy is well-established through clinical trials and meta-analyses in pathology. PRP therapy, when conducted under sterile conditions, has proven effective across fields like dentistry, dermatology, plastic surgery, and orthopedics. It has also demonstrated superior outcomes over hyaluronic acid in treating knee osteoarthritis.
However, PRP therapy is not recommended for cardiac surgery patients with thrombocytopenia (<100,000/μL), platelet disorders, cancer, or autoimmune diseases.
How important are kits in PRP therapy?
Kits play a critical role in ensuring sterile platelet separation and concentration. For instance, REV-MED’s TriCell PRP Kit, produced in Korea, enables two rounds of centrifugation in a single step, ensuring safety and reducing contamination risks compared to other kits.
What are the future prospects for PRP therapy?
PRP therapy is expanding rapidly in cardiac medicine and is already being applied for conditions like femoral head necrosis. Its scope in orthopedics, especially for osteoarthritis, is expected to grow significantly as research advances. Its minimal risk profile and broad applicability position it as a cornerstone treatment in regenerative medicine.
Source : HealthTrends (http://www.k-health.com)