Gene Therapy Trial for Cardiac Arrest Patients

As first phase of gene therapy trial comes to an end , second phase has already started. The physicians of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center lead the trial known as the Calcium Up-Regulation by Percutaneous Administration of Gene Therapy in Cardiac Disease (CUPID). These physicians are studying the reaction of patients undergoing gene therapy.

According to the National Library of Medicine, (NLM) “an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease by inserting a gene into a patients cells instead of using drugs or surgery.”  Following methods are used in gene Therapy:

Introduction of new gene is administered so that body can fight a disease

Mutated or die gene is replaced with a healthy gene. Gene therapy improves the functioning of improperly functioning imputated gene.

Reasons for Heart Failure

According to the reports published in Science Daily News, about 5 million people are currently living with the heart disease and heart failure conditions and are at the high risk of injury or even death. Unfortunately, incidences of heart failure are constantly increasing rather than decreasing.  According to American Heart Association, heart failure and heart diseases are dependent on many factors including the following:

• Heart muscle disease
• Abnormal heart valves
• Anemia
• Chronic lung disease
• Hypertension
• Coronary artery disease
• Abnormal rhythms of heart
• Myocardial infection
• Congenital heart disease

Among all these causes one new cause for heart disease and heart failure is the development of dangerous prescription drugs.

Of all the pharmaceutical dangers, Avandia is one of the most widely used dangerous drug that increase the risk of heart disease in patients. Avandia was introduced in the market in May 1999 and is prescribed to millions of patients every year. Individuals who are exposed to the side effects of Avandia should consult their healthcare professional to change the medicine.