Jasmine Guillen was born with a life-threatening congenital heart defect in January of this year. She had a condition called Hypoplastic left heart syndrome or HLHS. Fortunately for Jasmine, Researchers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are treating her as part of a new stem cell trial.
Jasmine’s mother found out about her baby’s heart defect when she was 20 months pregnant. It was devastating news, because most babies with HLHS either die young or have their lives dramatically impacted by the condition.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a birth defect that changes how blood flows through the heart. The left side of the heart does not form correctly, which reduces the volume of oxygen-rich blood that it can pump around the body. This condition can affect different parts of the heart, including the left ventricle, mitral valves, aortic vale, or the descending part of the aorta.
Babies born with HLHS will have problems breathing, a weak pulse, ashen or blueish skin, and a pounding heart. A few decades ago, it was almost always fatal. However, there are now various surgical procedures, medicines, and lifestyle changes that can be used to treat it.
This new stem cell trial uses a combination of surgery and stem cells to repair the heart. It is a novel approach that could completely transform how HLHS is treated.
CHLA surgeons have been at the forefront of treating this condition for years. They have developed a series of operations to reroute the right ventricle, allowing it to pump blood back to the body. This helped many children survive until they were adolescents or young adults — however, the heart would often fail at this point.
This new stem cell trial adds stem cells into the mix. The stem cells are harvested from the baby’s umbilical cord blood. They are then sent to the Mayo Clinic where they are processed. They are then re-introduced into the body, where they will begin to repair damaged tissue and increase the size of the heart.
If successful, this stem cell trial will save the lives of thousands of children.
Source: CHLA launches new stem cell trial for babies born with half a heart
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