The kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in your urine. Chronic kidney disease is the gradual loss of kidney function. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes, and wastes can build up in your body.  Treatment for chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression of kidney damage. Chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant.

Here are the 5 stages of Kidney disease

• Stages 1 & 2. Mild kidney disease. Your percentage of remaining kidney function is 60% or more.
• Stage 3. Moderate. kidney disease. Your percentage of remaining kidney function is 59% > 30%
• Stage 4. Significant. kidney disease. Your percentage of remaining kidney function is 29% > 15%
• Stage 5. Established. kidney disease.

Conventional Treatment Options for Kidney Failure

The treatment options for kidney failure won’t improve the functioning of your kidney but moreover, extend your lifespan.

• Hemodialysis uses a machine to move your blood through a filter outside your body, removing wastes.
• Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your belly to filter the blood inside your body, removing wastes.
• Kidney transplant is surgery to place a healthy kidney from a person who has just died, or from a living person, into your body to filter your blood.

Kidney Disease is Increasing

An estimated 2 million patients worldwide are affected by end-stage renal disease increasing at a rate of 5-7% per year. As far as the effectiveness of hemodialysis, only 35% of hemodialysis patients remain alive after five years of treatment.  Finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. There were less than 70,000 donor kidneys available worldwide, their availability has not grown to match demand.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Kidney Disease

The effectiveness of MSCs in the treatment of kidney disease has been extensively investigated in pre-clinical models, suggesting that results are promising. MSCs have immunomodulatory effects through the secretion of regulatory cytokines, activation of regulatory immune cells, and the capacity to increase cellular repair through the secretion of anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, and up-regulation of renal developmental markers.  In summary, MSCs can possibly halt and retard the progression of tissue damage in Chronic Kidney Disease. (Chung BH. Kidney Res Clin Pract. 2019;38(2)

Depending on the kidney patient’s condition, we have applied MSC by Intravenous methods with a simple IV drip or by catheter under the supervision of an interventional radiologist in a hospital setting.   With the catheter, we can control exactly where the stem cells will go. This generally should lead to a better outcome for the patient

Who is a candidate for Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Chronic Kidney Disease?

• Patients who may need to start dialysis and want to avoid dialysis
• Patients receiving dialysis
• Patients awaiting a Kidney transplant

Expected Outcomes after Mesenchymal Stem Cell treatment:

For Stage 4:

• Patients may prevent or postpone the need for dialysis
• Less dependency on medications
• Improved lifestyle

For Stage 5:

Patients may reduce the number of visits for dialysis

• Extend the life of the patient
• Less dependency on medications
• Improved lifestyle

Catheter Delivery of Stem Cells