Advanced Stem Cell Therapy in Top Hospitals of Germany
Best hospitals and doctors for stem cell therapy treatment in Germany
Leading hospitals
Cost for treatment
Content
- Essence of the stem cell treatment
- Types and sources of stem cells
- Role of the growth hormone in stem cell therapy in Germany
- Which pathologies can be treated with stem cells?
- Which hospitals in Germany provide stem cell therapy?
- How to apply for stem cell therapy in Germany?
Stem cell therapy involves using stem cells to repair or replace damaged tissues and cells in the body. This innovative treatment is utilized for various conditions, including blood disorders, neurological diseases, and certain types of cancer.
The effectiveness of stem cell therapy varies depending on the condition being treated. In many cases, patients experience significant improvements in their symptoms and quality of life. Research and clinical trials continue to enhance the effectiveness of these treatments.
Stem cell therapy in Germany is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries. German clinics are known for their expertise and high success rates in these treatments.
While stem cell therapy is generally safe, potential risks include infection and complications at the injection site. German clinics mitigate these risks through rigorous safety protocols and advanced medical practices.
Essence of the stem cell treatment
Stem cell donation has opened up new possibilities for treating a wide range of conditions, from arthritis treatment to treating autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders. These versatile cells can be transplanted to repair damaged tissues and modulate the immune system, offering hope for patients with previously untreatable conditions.
The whole human body develops from the union of two cells – a spermatozoon and an ovum. An impregnated ovum starts dividing and giving origin to more and more new cellular types. These cellular progenitors of all tissues and organs are stem cells (SCs). In addition to embryonic ones, autologous SCs can also be harvested from the adult organism (blood serum, bone marrow or adipose tissue) or produced in the laboratory. Their clinical significance is based on regenerative potency with restoring lost or damaged tissues, including brain and spinal cord, optic nerve, peripheral nerve endings, etc. Stem cell therapy patches up the scars on the heart muscle, improves hair growth, relieves chronic pain, and stimulates the regeneration of nerve tissue. German medical centers offer therapeutic, anti-aging and rejuvenation programs based on SCs transplantation.
Types and sources of stem cells
Basically, the most powerful stem cells are found in the embryos at the stage of blastocyst. This stage lasts for 3-5 days after the fertilization, before implantation in a uterus. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are harvested from embryos that are fertilized in vitro. Such embryos are donated for the research and clinical tasks, with signing the informed consent form. ESCs are never harvested from eggs that are fertilized in vivo, i.e. in a human body. Nevertheless, ESCs are used in the limited number of countries due to the peculiarities of legislation and ethical reasons.
Cord blood stem cells are SCs from the umbilical cord blood. They are harvested right after the childbirth. Such cells are especially valuable for the newborn they are harvested from. Being reliably frozen in a cell bank, cord blood SCs can be further transplanted to treat a number of pathologies in this particular person.
Adult stem cells are more specialized. There are hematopoietic, mesenchymal, neural, epithelial, and skin SCs. Depending on the disease and clinical situation, adult SCs are harvested from bone marrow, adipose tissue or articular cartilage. In order to achieve the best clinical outcome, cellular material may also be processed in the laboratory conditions. As a result of the genetic reprogramming, induced pluripotent stem cells are received. They combine benefits of embryonic and adult SCs.
Role of the growth hormone in stem cell therapy in Germany
Due to the genetic and metabolic peculiarities, pluripotent stem cells can divide rapidly and form large populations. However, with the beginning of differentiation and specialization this process slows down. For instance, cartilaginous cells divide 10-15 times less often compared to the skin cells, and neural cells do not divide at all. That is why diverse stimulators of cells proliferation and division are applied in order to make stem cell therapy more effective.
The most efficient and easy-to-apply substance from this pharmacological group is the growth hormone. Typically, doctors use the recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Unlike the native human growth hormone, the rhGH is better tolerated and has more clinically apparent action. The drug is introduced by the subcutaneous injections.
It has been proven that the application of growth hormone during stem cell therapy in Germany improves clinical outcomes in patients with cardiomyopathy and other heart pathologies. In addition, clinical trials have demonstrated favorable changes in the mesenchymal stem cells differentiation under the influence of rhGH. Thus, in the simultaneous introduction of rhGH adult mesenchymal stem cells do not start adipogenic cellular lines, but undergo active differentiation towards osteogenesis.
Which pathologies can be treated with stem cells?
Under the influence of the external stimuli, the induced pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into different tissues. A number of ongoing clinical trials are designed for investigating different stimuli and finding the most efficient ones. Today, German clinics administer SCs as a part of complex therapeutic regimens in patients with the following conditions:
- Stem cell treatment for Alzheimer's disease in Germany
- Stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease in Germany
- Infectious diseases, including Lyme disease
- Stem cell treatment for muscular dystrophy in Germany
- Stem cell treatment for cancer in Germany
- Diabetes mellitus and its complications, including diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy
- Stem cell heart treatment in Germany, including treatment of congestive heart failure
- Stem cell therapy for hearing loss in Germany
- Stem cell treatment for ED in Germany
- Different forms of vision loss, including vision loss against the background of retinitis pigmentosa
It should be noted that regeneration of the nervous tissue has certain peculiarities. For instance, stem cell treatment for Alzheimer's disease in Germany and the same treatment for spinal cord injury are based on different principles. When treating pathologies of the brain and pathologies without precise localization of the pathological locus SCs may be introduced intravenously. On the contrary, injuries of the spinal cord typically have clear localization, so that target introduction of stem cells near the damaged area may be performed.
Recent research is also showing potential in treating liver diseases, further expanding the scope of stem cell therapies.
German clinics are also pioneering in stem cell treatments for aggressive oncology like glioblastoma, lymphoma, spinal cord, and spine tumors. German oncologists are at the forefront of experimental stem cell therapies, offering hope for previously uncurable conditions. Stem cell therapy is often combined with surgery and other treatments to improve healing and recovery. In particular, hyperthermia is used in conjunction with stem cell therapy to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Which hospitals in Germany provide stem cell therapy?
Stem cell infusions are performed in large University clinics, as an addition to conventional therapeutic options. Besides, there are medical centers that give priority exactly to biological techniques and cellular therapy. One of the leaders in this sphere is the Clinic of Advanced Biological Medicine in Frankfurt-am-Main.
The clinic offers the best stem cell therapy in Germany, including SCs harvested from a patient himself or from a relevant donor. It should be mentioned that fresh stem cell therapy in Germany is under investigation yet. Fresh SCs also have a rejuvenating and healing effect on the human body, but they are harvested from animals or even plants. The safety and efficacy of fresh stem cells have not been proven yet.
What is the price of stem cell therapy in Germany? This primarily depends on the clinical diagnosis, stage of the disease, and severity of functional disorders, as well as on the patient’s age. The average cost of treatment for different pathologies (multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, autism, erectile dysfunction, optic nerve atrophy, etc.) is between 21,900 EUR and 22,900 EUR. You may clarify this question in advance during the consultation with Booking Health medical advisors and patient case managers.
How to apply for stem cell therapy in Germany?
The pros of undergoing stem cell therapy in Germany include access to the latest medical technology and highly skilled specialists. Fortunately, international patients may undergo stem cell treatment in Germany along with citizens of the country. This is possible due to the work of the international medical tourism provider Booking Health. The company has over 15 years of experience in arranging comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic programs in different spheres of medicine. It offers the highest level of services, including the following ones:
- Choosing the hospital that specialized in therapy with SCs based on the annual qualification profile
- Preparing medical program in advance, explaining all the procedures
- Establishing communication with your treating physician
- Providing favorable costs for medical and relevant services, without overpricing and additional fees (saving up to 50%)
- Booking the appointment, avoiding long waiting lists
- Monitoring medical program at all stages by independent experts
- Help in buying and forwarding of innovative medicines, if necessary
- Communication with the clinic and physician after treatment completion
- Control of invoices, double checking final calculation
- Organization of additional procedures and examinations, if any are required
- Offering travel services of the TOP level: booking hotels and tickets, transfer organization, services of translator and interpreter
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
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Sources:
STEM CELL TREATMENT of Optic Nerve Atrophy
