Fats cells used in Louisville hand transplant

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The medical team in Louisville that performed the nation’s first hand transplant 15 years ago is turning to an experimental therapy that uses a patient’s own fat to stave off rejection.

Scientists at the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute in Louisville say a Bowling Green man recently became the first-ever hand transplant patient to receive fat-derived cells.

The cells were injected in to Jim Ray’s new right hand before and after the procedure on Tuesday. The Courier-Journal reports (http://cjky.it/125gKdQ ) the surgery took 16 hours.

The institute’s bioficial organs program director Stuart Williams says fat cells have a dramatic effect on healing.

Ray is the ninth person to receive a hand transplant from the surgical team, which includes experts from KentuckyOne Health’s Jewish Hospital, the Kleinert institute, the Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center and the University of Louisville.

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Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

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