Stem cell therapy, a groundbreaking medical approach, promises to revolutionize healthcare by harnessing the body's own repair mechanisms. This innovative treatment utilizes stem cells' remarkable regenerative potential to address various health conditions. 

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the intricacies of stem cell therapy, its potential benefits, and important considerations for those seeking a deeper understanding of this cutting-edge medical advancement.

Revolutionize your health with stem cell procedures. Our article details the benefits and procedures in detail. Contact us now to schedule a consultation and embark on a path to enhanced well-being.

What Is Stem Cell Therapy? 

Stem cells are cells whose functions are not yet established. They have the potential to develop into different cell types, such as blood, brain, bones, or muscle cells. Stem cells can also repair damaged tissue by making exact replicas of themselves. 

Medical researchers believe that stem cell therapy can potentially treat various diseases or conditions. Healthcare providers leverage stem cells' unique qualities to treat cancer and many disorders.

According to data taken from the Ministry of Health's website, currently, stem cell therapy available in Indonesia is still limited to treating:

• Failed bone union.
• Long bone damage.
• Spinal bone damage.
• Paralysis due to spinal nerve injury.
• Knee osteoarthritis.
• Osteochondral lesions.
• Degeneration of spinal discs.
• Spondyloarthrosis.
• Osteoporosis.
• Stroke.
• Terminal kidney failure in children.
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• Diabetic foot.
• Extensive and deep burns.
• Blindness due to glaucoma.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).

Therefore, when you see advertisements from hospitals or health institutions claiming that stem cells can treat health disorders other than those mentioned above, consult your doctor to see whether the medical procedure is legal and clinically proven safe.

There are potential safety concerns for unproven stem cell therapy, including: 

• Reaction at the site of stem cell administration. 
• Failure of the cells to work as expected. 
• The probability of cells moving from the placement site, multiplying, and changing into inappropriate cell types. 
• The growth of tumors. 

Types of Stem Cells

There are four types of stem cells, which are classified by their sources. Take a look at the explanation below for further information: 

• Embryonic stem cells are stem cells that come from 3-5 day-old baby human embryos. During this period, the embryo has around 150 stem cells that are very versatile. They can divide into more stem cells and repair broken tissue and organs. However, the use of this type of stem cells is still controversial.
• Adult stem cells. Adult tissues contain a limited quantity of stem cells, which lack the versatility of embryonic stem cells. As a result, stem cells can only generate similar types of cells. For instance, stem cells derived from bone marrow have a specific ability to produce blood cells. Ongoing research endeavors aim to enhance the versatility of adult stem cells for broader applications.
• Genetic reprogramming stem cells. Researchers have successfully changed regular adult cells to have characteristics of embryonic stem cells using genetic reprogramming methods. However, implementing this cell in the human body might cause adverse effects, so further research is still needed. 
• Perinatal stem cells. Versatile stem cells are also present in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood. Therefore, these stem cells can transform into any specific cell in the body. You can consult your obgyn to collect amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood at birth to cure cancer and rare inherited disorders in children. 

How Does Stem Cell Therapy Work? 

Stem cell therapy works by replacing broken or dead cells in the body. Researchers cultivate stem cells in a laboratory, manipulating them to specialize into specific cell types, such as heart muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells.

The cells transformed into specific cell types will be implanted into a person.  In the case of individuals with cancer, stem cell therapy is employed to destroy cancer cells. This therapy also assists the body in reproducing stem cells after cancer treatment.

Stem Cell Therapy Procedure

A stem cell transplant is quite lengthy and complicated. In general, there are 5 steps that should be taken. Here are the steps: 

1. Tests and Examinations

The stem cell procedure begins with a series of tests and examinations conducted by the doctor to determine whether you are in suitable health for the transplant. These tests may include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Evaluates the heart's rhythm and electrical activity.
• Echocardiogram: Examines the heart's condition and the blood vessels around it through scanning.
• X-ray or Computerized Tomography Scan (CT Scan): This scan assesses the condition of other organs, such as the lungs and liver.
• Blood Test: Analyzes the blood cell levels and evaluates the functioning of the liver and kidneys.
• COVID-19 Test: If the recipient or the donor tests positive for COVID-19, the stem cell therapy may be postponed.

2. Harvesting Stem Cells

Once overall health is confirmed, the process of collecting stem cells from the recipient or the donor takes place. Depending on the requirements, stem cells can be extracted from blood, bone marrow, or cord blood. It can be taken from: 

• Autologous (stem cells are taken from the person who will receive the therapy).
• Allogenic (another person donates stem cells).
• Syngeneic (stem cells come from an identical twin).

3. Conditioning

After the stem cells are collected, the doctor administers treatments to prepare the recipient's body to receive the stem cells. 

For cancer cases, high doses of chemotherapy, and sometimes radiotherapy, are necessary to eliminate existing bone marrow cells, creating space for the transplanted tissue. 

This treatment also aims to destroy any remaining cancer cells and suppress the immune system to minimize the risk of transplant rejection. 

The conditioning process typically spans 1-2 weeks, during which the patient may need to stay in the hospital.

4. Transplantation Process

The actual transplantation occurs approximately 1-2 days after the conditioning process is completed. The stem cells are gradually introduced into the recipient's body through a central line over several hours. This process is generally not painful, and the patient remains conscious throughout.

5. Recovery Process

When the transplantation process is completed, you cannot go home immediately. You must stay in a sterile hospital room for about 1-3 months to ensure the transplantation is progressing well. However, you might need to stay longer if there are complications or infections.

Visitors may be required to wear protective clothing the hospital provides to prevent infections, as stem cell therapy often reduces the number of infection-fighting white blood cells.

During this recovery period, you may feel weak and experience symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of appetite. 

Depending on your health, you will either be given fluids orally or through a tube running from the nose to the stomach to prevent malnutrition. After stem cell transplantation, you will likely have low red blood cells and platelets, so you will also receive regular transfusions.

What Are the Risks of Stem Cell Therapy? 

Stem cell therapy offers fantastic benefits for improving health. However, like anything, it also has some potential risks. 

One of the most significant risks of this therapy is graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which occurs in one-half to one-third of allogeneic stem cell cases. 

GVHD occurs when the recipient's body does not recognize the donor’s white blood cells (WBCs) and attacks them. When this happens, the doctor will prescribe medications to suppress the immune system, preventing the body from attacking the donor cells. 

Besides GVHD, there are still several potential risks associated with stem cell therapy, such as:

• Hepatic veno-occlusive disease.
• Cancer relapses.
• New cancer.
• Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).

While there may be potential risks, there's no need to worry excessively. Proper consultation and care before and after therapy can minimize these risks.

Moreover, the benefits of this therapy are substantial and contribute significantly to your overall well-being. 

As the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for Health in Indonesia, the Sanur will introduce a state-of-the-art stem cell clinic with top-notch doctors and cutting-edge technology. 

We collaborate with several excellent countries, such as Japan, Germany, and the USA, and we are ready to serve you wholeheartedly because we believe that mental well-being is essential for restoring optimal physical health.