Treating Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s Disease with Umbilical Cord Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
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The liver is a vital organ in the human body. This organ is responsible for breaking down, balancing, and creating nutrients in the blood and supplying those nutrients to the body. Additionally, the organ is responsible for filtering the blood, breaking down dangerous and poisonous substances, and metabolizing drugs into forms that are much easier to use for the entire body. When the liver fails to function correctly, it can have life-threatening consequences.
There are two diseases in particular that can be incredibly dangerous for human life. These include hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease. Not only do these diseases affect the liver, but they can also affect the brain and various other organs in the body.
What is Wilson’s Disease?
Wilson’s disease is a relatively rare disorder that a person is born with. This disease results in copper accumulating within the brain, liver, and various other vital organs. Many people begin experiencing symptoms between the ages of 12 and 23. In the human body, copper plays a vital role in the development of healthy bones, nerves, melanin, and collagen.
Under normal conditions, copper is generally absorbed from the food that people eat, and the excess is excreted through the bile of the liver. When a person suffers from Wilson’s disease, the copper is not eliminated in the correct way. Instead, it accumulates within the body, which can be life-threatening.
In the United States, estimates show that approximately 9000 people are affected by Wilson’s disease. Globally, approximately one out of every 30,000 people has been diagnosed with it.
What is Hemochromatosis?
Hemochromatosis is a condition that results in the body absorbing too much iron from food sources. As a result, the excess iron is stored within the organs, particularly the liver, pancreas, and the heart. Having too much iron within these organs can be life-threatening and can result in diabetes, heart problems, and liver disease.
According to statistics, more than 650,000 people in the United States suffer from hemochromatosis. More than 1 million people in the entire world have currently been diagnosed with hemochromatosis.
What are the Symptoms of Hemochromatosis?
Patients who suffer from hemochromatosis may never have any symptoms. In most cases, early symptoms often overlap those that are experienced with various other health conditions. Here are some of the signs and symptoms that a patient may experience:
- Liver failure
- Brain fog
- Heart failure
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Loss of sex drive
- Diabetes
- Joint pain
- Impotence
- Bronze of graying of the skin
The most common type of hemochromatosis that patients are diagnosed with typically begins at birth. However, many patients do not experience any symptoms until later on in life. In many cases, men over the age of 40 and women over the age of 60 may start experiencing symptoms. There are various types of treatment that patients can receive for hemochromatosis.
What Treatment Options are Available for Hemochromatosis?
When it comes to treating patients who suffer from hemochromatosis, one of the most common forms of treatment includes the removal of blood from the body. This process is performed on a regular basis and is referred to as phlebotomy.
The goal of these phlebotomy procedures is to lower the iron levels within the blood. In general, the age, severity of the iron overload, and a patient’s overall health will determine how much blood is removed and how often the procedure is performed.
In the beginning, patients will go through an initial treatment schedule. This type of treatment is usually performed once or twice a week and usually within a primary care doctor’s office or a hospital setting.
Once the iron levels go down to an acceptable level, a patient will move to a maintenance treatment schedule. At this point, they will receive blood removal every 2 to 3 months. In some cases, patients may need to have their blood removed on a monthly basis. This will generally be determined by how quickly iron builds up in a patient’s blood.
In addition to this form of treatment, patients are also advised to make various lifestyle and home changes. Patients will want to avoid taking any iron supplements and any vitamins that contain iron in them. They will also want to avoid taking vitamin C supplements, avoid consuming alcohol, and avoid eating shellfish and raw fish.
What are the Symptoms of Wilson’s Disease?
Wilson’s disease is generally present at birth. However, many patients do not experience any symptoms or see any signs of the disease until the copper builds up within their liver, brains, or other vital organs. The symptoms that a patient may experience will generally depend upon the location of the body that is affected by the disease. Some of the most common symptoms reported by sufferers include:
- Fluid buildup in the abdomen or legs
- Yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Problems swallowing, speaking, or with physical coordination
- Muscle stiffness or uncontrolled movement
Patients who experience these and other symptoms of the disease have various types of treatments available to help alleviate some of the suffering they experience.
What Treatment Options are Available for Wilson's Disease?
Patients who have been diagnosed with Wilson Disease generally have several types of treatment options available. One of the most common treatments is the use of medication. Some of the most common medications prescribed to patients with this condition include:
- Penicillamine (Depen, Cuprimine): This is a chelating agent that is designed to bind copper and prompt the organs to release the copper into the bloodstream. This allows the body to then filter the copper through the kidneys and release it into the urine output. This type of treatment is generally designed to focus on preventing copper from building up within the organs.
- Trientine (Syprine): This medication works the same as Penicillamine. However, it tends to cause fewer side effects.
- Zinc acetate (Galzin): This medication will prevent the body from absorbing copper from food. This medication is generally designed as a maintenance therapy to prevent copper from building up again after being treated with Penicillamine or Trientine. This medication is sometimes used as a primary treatment if a patient is unable to take the other two types of medication.
In some cases, surgery may be recommended. In cases where the liver has been severely damaged, patients may need a liver transplant.
Using UC-MSCs to Treat Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s Disease
Over the past decade, there have been multiple studies concerning the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat patients who suffer from hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease. The studies that have been performed have been very promising when it comes to providing an alternative treatment method for patients who suffer from either of these conditions.
What Are Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells?
Umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, commonly referred to as UCT-MSCs, are a type of multifunctional stem cell that is isolated from the tissue cells in the umbilical cord. This type of stem cell is considered to be ethical because the cells are collected from the umbilical cord and result in no loss of life.
UCT-MSCs are quite unique because they have the capability of differentiating into a variety of critical cell types, including chondrocytes (cartilage cells), osteoblasts (bone cells), and adipocytes (fat cells). Umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells also have exceptional anti-inflammatory properties, which are especially beneficial when it comes to treating inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. The majority of these stem cells are isolated from the Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord.
Over the past decade, medical professionals have utilized these stem cells to treat hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease. Some studies have been proven effective when it comes to reducing inflammation and helping to promote the healing of the small intestine and the gut lining.
A study published in 2021 about the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat patients who suffer from either hemochromatosis or Wilson’s disease provided promising results. This study found that patients were able to tolerate the use of stem cell therapy very well and also experienced significant improvements in long-term survival rates. Additionally, patients suffering from liver diseases related to either of these conditions experienced improved liver functions after treatment. Another study published in 2020 found that the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells was effective when it comes to improving liver function in patients suffering from serious liver diseases.
Due to the anti-inflammatory qualities and the ability to differentiate that these stem cells provide, it is no surprise that they are exceptional treatment options for patients who suffer from either of these chronic diseases.
It is clear that umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells offer a promising and effective treatment for hemochromatosis and Wilson's Disease. The regenerative potential of these cells means that they can be used to address the underlying causes of both conditions, leading to potentially life-saving outcomes for some patients undergoing this therapy.
Curious about our innovative treatments? Explore the possibilities of stem cell therapy with Cellebration Wellness. Call 1.800.601.8290 today!
