Scientists Use Lab-Grown Muscle Patch to Treat Heart Failure

    Above: Two people hold a paper heart on Jan. 16, 2020. Image copyright: Unsplash

    The Spin

    Narrative A

    The heart patch represents a revolutionary breakthrough in treating heart failure and offers the first-ever possibility of effectively regenerating human heart tissue. The patches contain young muscle, with the characteristics of a heart between four and eight years old, providing a viable solution for patients who have exhausted other treatment options.

    Narrative B

    This potential treatment still faces significant challenges, including incomplete maturation of heart muscle cells and slow establishment of blood flow. Additionally, the requirement for immunosuppressant drugs, and the three—to six-month waiting period for therapeutic effects limits its immediate applicability for patients who desperately need urgent medical intervention.

    Metaculus Prediction


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