Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, you may be wondering how to move forward. With so many new medical terms, medications, and lifestyle changes, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. What, exactly, does it mean to live with chronic kidney disease? What treatment options are available? And how would stem cell therapy work?
What is chronic kidney disease?
Healthy kidneys filter waste that enters the body from food, the environment, certain medications, and other toxins. This waste is then pushed out of the body through urine. Kidneys also filter pumped blood before circulating it back to the heart. However, when a person has chronic kidney disease (CKD) — also known as chronic renal failure — the kidneys gradually lose their ability to perform their filtering functions. As a result, the person experiences waste and toxic buildup, which leads to health conditions such as high blood pressure, blood vessel diseases, anemia, and heart disease, among others.
Due to higher rates of high blood pressure and type II diabetes, chronic kidney disease affects more than 1 in 7 U.S. adults, according to the CDC. Such a high number makes it difficult to find enough kidney donors to meet the demand. Left untreated, CKD can lead to death. This is why many patients ask about stem cell therapy alongside their nephrologist’s care.
Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease
There are several circumstances that could cause a person to develop CKD. The most common ones include:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Connective tissue diseases — such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
- Glomerulonephritis
- Long-term use of pain medications, including acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Chemotherapy
- Long-term use of some antibiotics
Treating some of these underlying conditions can prevent or slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease. Unfortunately, some of these causes can be resistant to treatment.
Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease
The symptoms of chronic kidney disease vary from person to person, since the condition causes damage gradually. These include:
- Swelling
- Fatigue
- Muscle cramps
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Irregular heartbeat
- Anemia — lightheadedness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and/or pale skin
What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cells are a special type of cells in humans that can develop into other types of cells or tissues. It’s the only type of cell in the body that has the ability to generate into multiple different cells. Whether a person needs more blood, cartilage, muscle, skin tissue, or brain cells, stem cells can get it done. They then make more copies of each other — as many as are needed — to sustain a person’s health.
Stem cells can be harvested from body fat, bone marrow, and from umbilical cord tissue. We use fat: one harvest typically yields about 100 million cells, which are counted and viability-tested before use. In addition, they can be gathered from the same patient who needs them — so no donor tissue is involved.
How can stem cell therapy help patients with chronic kidney disease?
Stem cell therapy for CKD is still being studied. Research suggests mesenchymal stem cells may help reduce inflammation and may support kidney function. It does not replace dialysis or a transplant when those are needed, and individual results vary. Researchers are also studying whether mesenchymal stem cells may help protect kidney tissue from further injury.
If You Have Chronic Kidney Disease, Contact Innovations Medical
If you’re looking for innovative treatment that can ease the symptoms and impact of chronic kidney disease, Innovations Medical is here for you. We’ll answer your questions and resolve any concerns you have about stem cell therapy.
To explore stem cell therapy and learn how Innovations Medical can help, call us at (972) 893-9849 or schedule an appointment.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing health concern, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Traditionally, patients with advanced CKD require dialysis to filter toxins from the blood or a kidney transplant. However, for those who are not yet on dialysis or are seeking alternative therapies, stem cell treatments are being studied as a way to support kidney function.
One approach being studied for CKD is the use of autologous adipose-derived stem cells. These stem cells, derived from a patient’s own fat tissue, are collected in a minimally invasive procedure. Under the guidance of experts like Dr. Bill Johnson, a board-certified physician since 1983 who has offered regenerative care since 2012, many patients are finding hope in stem cell therapy as a potential treatment for chronic kidney disease.
We’ll discuss how stem cells could help treat CKD, specifically focusing on autologous adipose-derived stem cells, and how this approach may be an option to discuss for patients who are not yet on dialysis.
Dr. Bill Johnson explains why adipose stem cell treatment works well for patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Chronic kidney disease is a condition where the kidneys slowly lose their ability to function over time. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and excess fluids from the blood, balancing electrolytes, and producing hormones that regulate blood pressure and red blood cell production. As the kidneys deteriorate, they lose their ability to perform these essential functions, leading to a buildup of toxins in the body.
CKD is typically divided into five stages, with stage 5 being end-stage kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), where dialysis or a kidney transplant is required. But many patients with CKD are in the earlier stages, where the disease can be managed and its progression slowed.
For these patients, stem cell therapy may support kidney function and is being studied as a way to help slow disease progression.
What Makes Our Stem Cell Therapy Different
Stem cells are specialized cells with the unique ability to divide and develop into different types of cells. When used in regenerative medicine, stem cells can help repair or replace damaged tissues and organs. In CKD, researchers are studying whether stem cells may help reduce inflammation and support kidney function.
There are several types of stem cells used in research and treatment, but autologous adipose-derived stem cells are gaining attention for their potential to treat CKD.
Autologous adipose-derived stem cells come from the patient’s own fat tissue. This means that the cells are genetically identical to the patient, so no donor tissue is involved. These stem cells can be harvested through a minimally invasive procedure, processed in the laboratory, and then re-injected into the patient’s body, by IV infusion.
At Innovations Stem Cell Center in Dallas, we use adipose-derived stem cells, taken from your own fat, to help reduce inflammation and support kidney function. Our stem cell therapy for kidney disease options are designed for individuals not yet on dialysis who want to explore whether regenerative medicine may support kidney function.
The Role of Autologous Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Therapy in Kidney Disease
Autologous adipose-derived stem cells are a type of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), which are known for their ability to differentiate into various cell types and their strong regenerative properties. These stem cells can also help reduce inflammation, stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, and promote the healing of injured tissue.
In the case of chronic kidney disease, these stem cells can:
- Support Kidney Tissue: Research is exploring whether stem cells may help protect kidney tissue and support kidney function.
- Reduce Inflammation: Inflammation plays a significant role in the progression of CKD. Stem cells may help reduce inflammation in the kidneys, which is being studied as a way to slow progression.
- Promote Blood Vessel Growth: Stem cells may stimulate the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), which may improve blood supply to the kidneys.
- Support Kidney Function: By helping reduce inflammation, stem cells may support kidney function. They do not replace dialysis or a transplant when needed.
For patients with early to moderate stages of CKD, autologous adipose-derived stem cells may be an option to discuss with your nephrologist alongside your current care.
Dr. Bill Johnson’s Expertise in Stem Cell Therapy for CKD
Dr. Bill Johnson is a board-certified physician practicing regenerative medicine since 2012, specializing in the use of autologous adipose-derived stem cells to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic kidney disease. A physician since 1983, Dr. Johnson has offered adipose-derived stem cell therapy since 2012 and has been featured on TV for 20+ years.
At the Innovations Stem Cell Center, Dr. Johnson offers personalized treatments to individuals struggling with CKD, helping them explore regenerative options alongside their nephrology care. With a focus on using the patient’s own cells, Dr. Johnson’s approach avoids donor tissue and is tailored to each patient’s health.
Dr. Johnson’s experience and dedication to his patients make him a trusted name in stem cell therapy. If you’re interested in learning more about how autologous adipose-derived stem cells could help manage your chronic kidney disease, visit the Innovations Stem Cell Center to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Kidney Disease?
- Minimally Invasive: The procedure to harvest stem cells is relatively simple and minimally invasive compared to traditional treatments like dialysis or kidney transplant surgery.
- Use of Your Own Cells: Autologous stem cells come from your own body, which reduces the risk of complications and rejection.
- Early Research: Early studies suggest stem cell therapy may support kidney function and help slow CKD progression; research is ongoing.
- Fewer Side Effects: Because the stem cells are from your own body, side effects are typically mild; Dr. Johnson reviews the risks with you at your consultation.
Stem cell therapy represents a new frontier in treating chronic kidney disease. It’s an exciting option for those who are not yet on dialysis or want to add a regenerative option to their current care.
What to Expect from Treatment
Outpatient procedure (typically 4 hours)
First treatment is $16,500; second (6–12 months later) is $10,000
Many patients need more than one treatment
Financing is available. Contact us directly and we’ll help you apply.
Why Patients Travel to Us from Across the U.S.
A large portion of our patients travel from outside Texas. Our Dallas clinic is known for its compassionate care, IRB-reviewed outpatient protocols, and customized stem cell treatment plans. Visit our info page for patients traveling into Dallas for treatment.
Conclusion: Exploring Stem Cell Therapy for CKD
For those with chronic kidney disease, stem cell therapy using autologous adipose-derived stem cells is being studied as a way to support kidney function in patients not yet on dialysis. Dr. Bill Johnson has been a physician since 1983 and has offered regenerative care since 2012. At the Innovations Stem Cell Center, patients receive cutting-edge care and personalized treatment plans designed around their kidney health. Stem cell therapy is not FDA-approved to treat kidney disease. Individual results vary.
If you or someone you know is struggling with chronic kidney disease and is not on dialysis, consider exploring the potential of stem cell therapy. To learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Johnson, visit the Innovations Stem Cell Center today.
