UAE | Health
Experimental stem-cell drug heals man's liver
A 20-year old Abu Dhabi man's liver repaired itself and is now fully recovered after doctors gave him an experimental stem cell drug.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 01:28 January 31, 2008
Dubai: A 20-year old Abu Dhabi man's liver repaired itself and is now fully recovered after doctors gave him an experimental stem cell drug.
The story of his recovery, along with four others who underwent the same treatment with mixed results, will be published in a British scientific journal, said the doctor who treated him.
Dr Susan Lim, a consultant general surgeon in Singapore, said the man's liver failed suddenly while undergoing treatment for leukaemia two years ago.
"He needed a liver transplant," she said. "I treated him with the stem cell drug [which her team is studying] and within three days, he woke up," she added.
She met with the man recently. Tests show his liver is functioning normally and he is now considered to be fully recovered.
"We only use the drug on last-resort patients because it is experimental. Some patients can't wait for animal trials to be over and completely successful," she said.
The drug works by stimulating bone marrow into producing stem cells, which then target any impaired organs.
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