COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

COPD is emerging to become the third-leading cause of death globally by the year 2020. COPD is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways called bronchitis and irreversible damage to the alveoli called emphysema. This results in respiratory failure and very poor quality of life as the disease progresses. There is also significant systemic inflammation, contributing to multi organ disease and failure. Studies have shown that COPD patients tend to have higher rate of cardiac diseases, Diabetes, kidney failure and cancer.

The disease is primarily caused by chronic exposure to cigarette smoke or indoor air pollution, which triggers inflammatory process that does not respond to any treatment resulting in constant progress of disease. New therapeutic approaches are desperately needed for COPD.

Animal studies have shown that stem cells have ability to reduce chronic pulmonary and systemic inflammation and also reduce emphysema in COPD models. A recent clinical trial of stem cells in COPD has shown that stem cell therapy can significantly reduce systemic inflammation indicating that the therapy has potential to modulate disease mortality.

We will be treating your COPD with autologous mononuclear fraction of bone marrow derived stem cells for studies conducted in India and Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for treatment done in Trinidad.

We will be performing injection of cord tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells directly delivered to venous system, which will then via right atrium travel into pulmonary circulation and the lungs. With this route, we will try to target lung tissues, which are in close proximity to the pulmonary circulation, particularly inflamed alveoli.

The treatment length would be as follows:
One intravenous infusion and one bronchoscope instillation of mesenchymal stem cells 7 days apart with follow ups of another 7 days as direct observation before the discharge.

Our staff members will follow you up in accordance to the study protocols. Each study protocol will be discussed with you. We will also collaborate with your pulmonologist to monitor your lung functions and titrate your inhaler requirement to ensure optimal disease control. Our medical staff will be monitoring you 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment.