First Successful Case Example of a Hearing Loss Cure in a Human Patient?

With the slow progress and FDA approval in the United States on using stem cells to help treat nerve deafness hearing loss a patient with autoimmune condition hearing loss was treated in South Korea using her own adult stem cells that eventually restored her hearing to almost normal levels.

Chloe visited Dr. Won, a plastic surgeon in Los Angeles to harvest her fat tissue around her belly button in last June. Then the tissue was sent to the laboratory RNL BIO in Germantown, Maryland, where they isolated stem cells, put them in liquid nitrogen shipper and transported them to RNL BIO in Seoul, Korea. It took them a month to expand her stem cells to a sufficient amount enough to treat her hearing loss. Chloe's family planned a trip to Korea during their summer vacation. At last, on July 27, 2009, they visited Korea for two weeks. The stem cell treatment took place in Japan -- 600 million cells were administered by three injections with 5 day intervals. The cells were injected into her veins and auditory system.

Chloe's hearing was tested two months after the procedure was completed on October 16, 2009. The results were spectacular. The left side of her ear improved 50% from not being able to hear at all. The right side of her ear gained almost complete hearing.

Dr. Jotterand could not bear her excitement, "Now it's just been a 180 degree turnaround. She's just enjoying life and enjoying being a freshman at the university. She's just having a great time and it's just wonderful to see the joy in her own face and in her life."

Again, with a grain of salt but this looks more promising. With more countries such as Mexico taking part in using stem cells to began the treatment of nerve deafness hearing loss, the United States will surely be left in the dust at this rate unless the FDA somehow fast track this medical process just as they have fast tracked for the treatment of damaged heart muscles with the patient's own stem cells.

Hat tip: Neuro.

UPDATE: See caption video interview of Chloe!