Children born with congenital heart disease (CHD) can face many challenges, including multiple surgeries, lifelong medication, abnormal heart rhythms, decreased quality of life, progressive heart failure, and even premature death or the need for a heart transplant. The heart’s stem cells work throughout life to slowly regenerate the heart, but these cells are unable to prevent eventual heart failure, especially for children born with only one ventricle. Before birth, the heart builds itself from within, a process that ceases shortly after birth. Research has shown that young cardiac stem cells do a better job repairing injury than those from adult patients.
Working with a multidisciplinary team from Prentice Women’s Hospital and the Heart Center at Lurie Children’s, a new one-of-a-kind program, the Fontan Futures℠ Initiative, plans to help families expecting a child with only one ventricle save cord blood and heart tissue. The Fontan Futures℠ Initiative, named for a typical stage of surgical repair for these patients, will bank these cells on behalf of our patients through the Mathews Center for Cellular Therapy (MCCT) for use in emerging therapies for cardiac regeneration in coming years. We maintain a detailed database of each of the patients who participate in the Fontan Futures℠ Initiative to help manage patients' care and conduct research over time. This database tracks clinical variables, patient associated biologic samples, contact information and patient-family preferences. It also enables us to track the development of heart failure from a clinical and research perspective.
Phenomenal progress with 3D printed materials, advances in nanotechnology and clinical trials using stem cells strongly suggest that there are opportunities to treat heart failure. Ultimately, this novel program aims to improve the quality of life for children living with heart failure, as well as delay or prevent their need for heart transplantation.