Stem Cells for Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis belongs to a family of diseases called interstitial lung disease, all of which cause lung scarring. When the lung tissue scars it becomes thick and stiff, interfering with a person’s ability to breath. Sometimes the cause for the fibrosis can be found, but when it can’t, the disease is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Some of the most common causes for PF are: some viral infections, smoking, environmental pollutants, certain medicines, GERD and genetic factors. There is no cure for this disease. Treatments are focused on preventing further scarring of the lung tissue and better quality of life and medication mostly on preventing inflammation. Some of the treatments available are oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and in some cases a lung transplant.

In recent years more and more studies have shown that treatment with adipose tissue derived stem cells will slow down the progression of PF and IPF. In clinical trials, particularly for IPF-the lethal form of the disease- 6 monts follow up appointments and testing have demonstrated improvement in walking distance and forced vital capacity.