Adult stem cells show promise

St. Paul, Minn. — A new study done in Minnesota finds that using adult stem cells to treat first-time heart attack patients appears to be effective. The results were surprising because the study was looking to test the safety of the stem cell line called Provacel on heart-attack patients.

But the results of the study show that adult stem cells were able to limit heart damage and help first-time heart attack patients recover quickly.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer talked with a heart specialist and one of the investigators on this study, Dr. Jay Traverse.