An exciting stem cell milestone occurred in Australia recently, with a 20-month old baby becoming the world’s youngest child to receive a transplant of their own stem cells. The treatment used cord blood to treat type 1 diabetes.
Researchers have only used cord blood to treat type 1 diabetes a few times, but hope the treatment may become a viable option for curing the condition.
The 20-month-old, named Lucy Hinchion, received a transplant of her own umbilical cord blood. Doctors hope that the transplant will delay or prevent the onset of type diabetes, a debilitating disease that can lead to serious medical complications.
Umbilical cord blood has become a hot topic for medical researchers around the world. It is the blood that is drawn from the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby has been delivered. This blood is rich with stem cells that can be used to treat a variety of condition including cancer, blood disorders, immune system disorders, and metabolic disorders.
Researchers are looking at the potential of using cord blood to treat many other conditions including blindness, heart disease, diabetes, and spinal injuries.
Parents can choose to store the umbilical cord blood of their child after they are born. Lucy’s mother, Sonya, decided to store her child’s cord blood in the hope it may help Lucy’s older sister Ava, who had already been diagnosed with diabetes. Unfortunately, Lucy was also diagnosed as having a high risk of type 1 diabetes.
Sonya decided to use the cord to treat type 1 diabetes in Lucy instead. Sonya admitted going ahead with the transplant was a tricky decision, saying: “You’re putting all your eggs in one basket but without doing this trial and without putting yourself out there, we’re never going to learn.” She continued, “The other risk is, she develops diabetes and you’ll kick yourself for not trying.”
The transplant was a part of a trial that involves more than 100 infants who tested positive for the antibodies linked to type 1 diabetes. Each of these children will be receive a stem cell transplant, then doctors will follow their progress.
Source: Toddler Reinfused With Own Umbilical Cord Blood in Attempt to Halt Type 1 Diabetes
{{cta(‘010124f3-c9bc-4a23-b9fc-74953e6288c9’)}}