Regenerative Medicine

Dr. I saw the online segment from 60 minutes on regenerative medicine.  Do you think this is the cure-all for liver disease sufferers?  Will regenerative liver cells made from stem cells be able to replace damaged liver cells?  They say this will be available to the public in 5 years.  Do you agree with that time frame?  If I can hold out for 5 years maybe I can get new liver cells and have a fully functioning liver.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

all physicians who care for patients with liver disease are hopeful that down the road this type of therapy will have become part of our armamentarium and are confident that it will.  however, i am somewhat less optimistic with regard the time frame.