A new stem cell injection may help children with serious congenital heart defects, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Research done by Okayama University reveals that children with HLHS showed cardiac improvement after 18 months following the injection.
However, the rarity of this heart defect and the sample size means that further study may need to be done to reach a definite conclusion about this potentially fatal birth abnormality.
What is Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome?
HLHS is a rare congenital heart disease that can be caused by genetics, infection, environmental exposure or prescription medication, such as some antidepressants.
Babies born with HLHS have an underdeveloped aorta and left ventricle. This lack of development in this region inhibits proper blood flow in this area. The left side of the heart is important because this is where the body gets oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to pump to the rest of the body.
HLHS is fatal to babies if surgery or another life-prolonging intervention is not performed. Heart operations and full heart transplants are known methods to save children with this heart defect. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology estimates that only 70 percent of children with HLHS will live to become adults.
Check back with us again as we will discuss HLHS further in the future. Additionally, follow us on Twitter and Facebook to see how we help children that have been injured by pharmaceutical and healthcare negligence.
[Did You Know? About 960 American-born babies are born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome each year, according to the CDC.]
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