Stem cell transplant has cured urinary incontinence in small trials

Early results from research studies suggest that a person's own stem cells may be used to make the bladder stronger and perhaps alleviate or cure incontinence. Ultrasound surgery was used to transplant a persons own stem cells (harvested from arm muscle and allowed to reproduce in laboratory) into the bladder muscles and urethra. Results found that many had success within a day of the transplant and after 1 year 90% were cured. The treatment was found to be more successful in women than in men. Stress urinary incontinence occurs when muscles that control the urethra aren't strong enough resulting in urine leakage when the patient exercises, sneezes, coughs, lifts heavy objects and laughs. Risk factors include being female, being past middle age, having children, menopause and pelvic surgery (prostatectomy or hysterectomy).

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by WebMD Medical News

Related Disease Topics:

• Incontinence
• Stress urinary incontinence

Related Symptom Topics:

• Weak bladder muscles
• Urine leakage while exercising
• Urine leakage while sneezing
• Urine leakage while coughing
• Urine leakage while lifting heavy objects
• Urine leakage while laughing

Article Source Details

About: Stem cell transplant has cured urinary incontinence in small trials

Date: 29 November 2004

Source: WebMD Medical News

Author: Jennifer Warner

URL: http://my.webmd.com/content/article/97/104259.htm

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Menopause
• Pregnancy
• Pelvic surgery
• Prostatectomy
• Hysterectomy
• Research
• Research and incontinence
• Research and stress urinary incontinence
• Research and weak bladder muscles
• Research and urine leakage while exercising
• Research and urine leakage while sneezing
• Research and urine leakage while coughing
• Research and urine leakage while lifting heavy objects
• Research and urine leakage while laughing
• Cause of weak bladder muscles
• Cause of urine leakage while exercising
• Cause of urine leakage while sneezing
• Cause of urine leakage while coughing
• Cause of urine leakage while lifting heavy objects
• Cause of urine leakage while laughing

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