Bringing New Life to Old Arteries with Oxygen

One in three people over the age of 70 suffers from peripheral artery disease (PAD), a narrowing of arteries that occurs most often in the legs. Plaque, a substance composed of cholesterol, calcium and fibrous tissue, builds up in the arteries and hardens over time, reducing blood flow. Symptoms range from pain to difficulty fighting infection and in severe cases, tissue death. Treatment with adipose-derived stem cells offers great promise for restoring blood flow, but the inherently oxygen-deprived environment causes the majority of stem cells to die before they can be of regenerative benefit.