In 2021, the prevalence of the most common valvular heart diseases together was estimated at about 84 million cases globally. Individuals diagnosed with the disease may suffer from annoying symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, among other symptoms affecting their quality of life; it is a growing threat leading to increased illness, disability, and death.
A research project led by the renowned cardiac surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub invented a scaffold to be implanted in a patient’s body and grow into a natural valve, turning a dream into a reality and giving hope to millions worldwide. The valves in our heart open and close to regulate the blood flow. Valvular heart diseases happen when those valves do not open or close properly, leading to the blood flowing backward (regurgitation) or narrowing the path for blood to pass through the affected valves (Stenosis).
There is no pharmaceutical medication for the disease, the only option is a replacement surgery for the affected valve. Traditional treatment approaches for valvular heart diseases involve, especially in advanced cases, valve replacement, which may be of animal origin or mechanical valve replacement. Till now, there are no ideal heart valve substitutes, as both available valve replacements have their pros and cons, including multiple replacement operations or rejection of the replaced heart valve by the body’s immune system.
In the research published in Nature Communication journal, the research team illustrated the steps of the invention, starting from the designing of the scaffold to its successful implantation. In an interview, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub said that they started to assess the scaffold in the preclinical phase and it showed promising results, then they implemented it in a sheep. After one month, it was able to attract about twenty cell types and grow blood vessels and nerves, mimicking the valve development during the embryonic stage.
After six months, the valve turned into a functional heart valve, performing its functions efficiently like normal ones. After finishing the animal model trial, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will provide them the approval to try it on humans. According to this plan, the scaffolds will be commercially available globally in three years. He added that this invention is “His Gift to Humanity”.
With time this scaffold will dissolve, leaving only the valve made from the patient’s cells that will not be rejected by the body’s immune cells. Patients suffering from valvular heart disease will need to do this procedure only once during their lifetime. It can be done through catheterization instead of open surgery, making it less invasive than traditional surgery, minimizing the healing time, decreasing treatment expenses, and improving their quality of life.
This astonishing achievement paves the way for more advancement in the field of regenerative medicine and cardiology, raising hopes of finding efficient treatments for devastating diseases.
References
doi.org