It was just about eight years ago that three women in south Florida were injured by stem cell treatments intended to combat macular degeneration. Perhaps you remember seeing stories on the news. While tragic, the stories also demonstrate why it’s not wise to jump to conclusions about regenerative therapies.

 

Unfortunately, many people – including prominent members of the media and state and federal lawmakers – did jump to conclusions. So did healthcare’s mainstream players. To this day, regenerative medicine has an undeserved black eye.

 

Bad Apples in Every Bunch

 

First and foremost, there are bad apples in every bunch. A rogue doctor in south Florida performing questionable procedures with questionable methods doesn’t make all of regenerative medicine quackery. It also does not make the majority of regenerative medicine practices inherently dangerous.

 

There are very competent surgeons who botch routine surgeries. Does that call into question the entire surgical practice? Of course not. Yet people jumping to conclusions negatively painted regenerative medicine with one broad stroke due to the actions of a small number of rogue medical providers.

 

Procedure Details Matter

 

A more important consideration is the fact that procedure details matter. When regenerative medicine procedures are performed properly and in keeping with current FDA guidelines, they are completely safe. The same goes for open heart surgery. But if either a regenerative medicine practitioner or heart surgeon go rogue, unapproved procedures could lead to disaster.

 

Jumping to conclusions about regenerative medicine displays one’s ignorance of how such procedures are performed. To illustrate, let us talk about two types of biological material utilized in regenerative medicine.

 

1. Autologous Material (PRP Injections)

 

The PRP injections commonly used to treat musculoskeletal disorders, soft tissue injuries, and hair loss rely on autologous material provided by the patient. As Weatherford, Texas-based Lone Star Pain Medicine explains, the patient donates their own blood for the procedure. The blood is processed in a centrifuge to isolate platelets and growth factors. The resulting material is then injected into the injury site.

 

Lone Star also says that, because the material is donated by the patient, there is a near zero risk of complications and side effects. The only considerable site effect is that of infection at the injection site. But infection is a potential side effect of all injections.

 

2. Mesenchymal Cells (Stem Cell Injections)

 

Mesenchymal cells are just one of several different types of stem cells in the human body. They are the preferred type for common stem cell injection therapies. As multipotent stem cells, they can differentiate into various types of connective tissue. That is important. These cells cannot differentiate into other tissue types.

 

Current FDA guidelines allow the use of minimally manipulated autologous material for both PRP and stem cell injections. Medical clinics don’t need to have their therapies approved as long as said therapies are conducted according to current guidelines. And the vast majority of clinics do just that.

 

Don’t Assume, Do Some Research

 

The use of autologous material in regenerative medicine is something that most people don’t know about. For that reason alone, jumping to conclusions about current regenerative treatments doesn’t make sense. Instead of assuming that regenerative medicine is dangerous and quackery, consumers should do some research.

 

Regenerative medicine holds a lot of promise for the future. But one of the things holding it back are assumptions made by people with a lot of influence. When people jump to conclusions about any novel medical treatment, they are doing a disservice to both patients and clinicians willing to think outside the box. Such has historically been the case with regenerative medicine.