Originally published October 20 2005
Doctors pioneer new gene therapy technique
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
At the Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco, researchers introduced a technique that provides gene therapy to patients experiencing kidney failure.
A new technique delivers gene therapy directly to blood vessels in patients with kidney failure who undergo dialysis.
Researchers reported on the targeted approach at the Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco.
Currently, the most common method of providing access to the circulatory system for dialysis involves inserting an artificial blood vessel (graft) under the skin in the forearm or upper arm and surgically sewing it to the natural blood vessels.
Over time, the inserted blood vessels block the area where the grafts are sewn to the vein.
Patients then must have another procedure to clean out the existing artificial vein or to place a tube in the body to restore vascular access.
The study evaluated the effect of Trinam -- a molecular medicine consisting of vascular endothelial growth factor gene (VEGF) in an adenovirus -- on dialysis patients' access grafts.
In animal studies, the therapy reduced the rate of vein scarring, suggesting that it may prolong the life of dialysis access grafts.
Investigators from Duke University studied 16 patients undergoing dialysis for kidney failure.
After one year, patients have not experienced any signs of inflammation or infection in the vascular access graft or other serious adverse effects.
Results also show the adenovirus has not spread outside the specific vein the surgeons treated.
Although the study was not designed to evaluate the effectiveness of gene therapy, researchers say all but one of the vascular access grafts has remained open to date.
The study has expanded to include two additional centers and will test a higher dose of VEGF adenovirus particles.
Dr. Lawson says: "This kind of technology is very exciting and some day will be in general use.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml