Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a disease that tends to become severe once it occurs, and in the worst cases, it can be fatal.
The mortality rate is very high, around 50%, and even if a patient survives, they may suffer from severe after-effects or a high risk of re-bleeding.
In addition, you're probably curious about the details of stem cell therapy, a regenerative medicine that has been attracting attention recently, and its effectiveness in treating subarachnoid hemorrhage, right?
This article focuses on subarachnoid hemorrhage, and also discusses stroke, stem cell therapy, causes, and prevention methods. Subarachnoid hemorrhage can be prevented by reviewing your lifestyle, so please use this information as a reference.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's vital statistics for 2021, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Japan.
Aging and changes in lifestyle are believed to be contributing to the increase in strokes. Furthermore, stroke is the leading cause of being bedridden, accounting for approximately 39% of all cases.
A stroke is a disease in which blood vessels in the brain become blocked or rupture, leading to poor blood flow and impaired function in certain parts of the body.
Strokes can be broadly classified into three types.
● "Cerebral infarction" is caused by a blockage in the blood vessels of the brain.
● "Cerebral hemorrhage" is caused by the rupture of blood vessels in the brain.
● Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a condition that often occurs when a bulge (aneurysm) in a blood vessel in the brain ruptures.
Common symptoms of stroke include "partial paralysis" and "impaired consciousness," but since the way the disease develops differs, we will explain each one.
Reference for writing ①: https://www.google.com/search
table of contents
1-1. Cerebral infarction
A stroke is a condition in which the brain is damaged when a part of the blood vessels in the brain becomes blocked. Because blood flow does not reach the brain cells, oxygen and energy are not supplied, causing them to die.
Cerebral infarction can be broadly classified into three types.
① Lacunar infarction: This is a small infarction that occurs when a small blood vessel, which branches off from a large blood vessel in the brain, becomes blocked.
② Atherothrombotic stroke: This occurs when atheroma (a mass of fat) forms on the inside of large blood vessels in the brain or neck.
③ Cardiogenic cerebral embolism: This occurs when a blood clot formed in the heart travels to the blood vessels of the brain and causes a blockage.
Reference for writing ①: https://www.yokohama-shintoshi.jp/brain/nokosoku.html
1-2. Cerebral hemorrhage
A cerebral hemorrhage is a condition in which small blood vessels in the brain rupture, causing bleeding within the brain.
The blood that has bled will clot and form a hematoma, which will compress the brain. Eventually, the area around the hematoma will swell and compress the brain, causing symptoms such as nausea, headache, and impaired consciousness. Subsequent symptoms vary depending on where the bleeding occurred.
Cerebral hemorrhage can be broadly classified into five types.
① Putaminal hemorrhage: This can cause hemiplegia or numbness on one side of the body, and conjugate gaze deviation where both eyes turn towards the paralyzed side.
② Thalamic hemorrhage: Symptoms include decreased sensation and thalamic pain (pain on one side of the body).
③ Pontine hemorrhage: Both eyes may become fixed in the middle or the pupils may constrict.
④ Cerebellar hemorrhage: Symptoms include severe pain in the back of the head, dizziness, and difficulty walking.
⑤ Subcortical hemorrhage: Bleeding occurs in the subcortical areas of the parietal or frontal lobe, resulting in seizures, hemianopsia, and aphasia.
Reference for writing ①: https://www.yokohama-shintoshi.jp/brain/noshukketsu.html
1-3. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a condition in which bleeding occurs in the space beneath the arachnoid membrane, one of the membranes that surround the brain. The brain is covered from the outside by the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when bleeding occurs in the space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater (the subarachnoid space).
Symptoms include sudden, severe headaches, altered consciousness such as drowsiness, vomiting, and dizziness. It is prone to becoming severe, with an estimated 30% of patients dying or suffering from significant long-term disabilities.
Regarding the prognosis, it is important to be aware that rebleeding is likely to occur within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Writing reference ①: https://soujinkai.or.jp/himawariNaiHifu/fatty-liver
2. What causes subarachnoid hemorrhage?
There are three main causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
● Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm ● Bleeding from an arteriovenous malformation ● Head injury
<Rupture of a brain aneurysm>
Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm accounts for 90% of the causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
A cerebral aneurysm is a condition in which blood enters a thinned section of the wall of a cerebral artery, causing it to bulge out like a lump.
<Bleeding from arteriovenous malformation>
This condition is caused by a congenital abnormality in the connection between a cerebral artery and vein (nidus), which allows blood to flow into the nidus and cause bleeding. It has a low incidence rate and is not hereditary.
<Head injury>
It develops as a result of a strong external force applied to the head, such as in an accident or fall.
Writing reference ①: https://soujinkai.or.jp/himawariNaiHifu/fatty-liver
3. Regenerative medicine that is expected to be effective for subarachnoid hemorrhage
It was previously believed that once brain cells were damaged, they could not be restored.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage, in particular, is prone to becoming severe, and even if the patient survives, they often suffer from lasting after-effects. However, regenerative medicine, specifically stem cell therapy, is showing promise in improving these after-effects.
3-1. It is expected to regenerate and repair blood vessels in the brain.
Stem cell therapy involves taking adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from the patient's own fat cells, increasing their volume to the required amount, and then transplanting them via intravenous infusion.
This treatment is considered safe because it involves transplanting the patient's own cells, thus minimizing the risk of rejection. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, in particular, is a disease with a high recurrence rate if left untreated. Stem cell therapy is expected to regenerate and repair blood vessels in response to this condition.
Stem cell therapy is attracting attention because normal blood vessel function can prevent subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Writing reference ①: https://neurotech.jp/saiseiiryou/subarachnoid-hemorrhage/
Writing reference ②: https://job-gear.jp/mikiyukai/sakamoto/service_d.htm
3-2. Recovery of brain function is expected.
When a subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs, various symptoms appear, such as severe headaches and impaired consciousness. This is because the subarachnoid hemorrhage causes the brain to lose its normal function.
Stem cell therapy utilizes stem cells and growth factors such as cytokines, which are proteins produced by stem cells, to repair and improve damaged brain tissue.
When brain tissue is repaired and improved, brain function is restored, leading to an improvement in various symptoms such as headaches and impaired consciousness.
Writing reference ①: https://neurotech.jp/saiseiiryou/subarachnoid-hemorrhage/
Writing reference ②: https://job-gear.jp/mikiyukai/sakamoto/service_d.htm
4. The cost of regenerative medicine treatment for subarachnoid hemorrhage.
The cost of stem cell therapy, a form of regenerative medicine, is by no means cheap.
Stem cell therapy is rarely covered by insurance, and is generally a self-funded treatment. The cost varies depending on the clinic and the severity of the subarachnoid hemorrhage, but it typically ranges from 1 million to 4 million yen.
Here, we'll highlight a few clinics and introduce their fees.
Stem cell therapy is not covered by insurance, but it is eligible for medical expense deductions.
Clinic A Clinic B Clinic C Examination/Counseling (1 session) 11,000 yen 11,000 yen 3,000 yen Blood test (1 session) 11,000 yen 11,000 yen 11,000 yen Stem cell infusion (1 session) 1,650,000 yen 1,460,000 yen 2,420,000 yen
Writing reference ①: https://neurotech.jp/saiseiiryou/subarachnoid-hemorrhage/
Writing reference ②: https://www.apoplexy.jp/apoplexy/cost/
5. Effective preventive measures for subarachnoid hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage often becomes severe once it occurs, so prevention is crucial.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage was previously thought to occur suddenly, but early symptoms such as blood pressure fluctuations and headaches have been observed. It also frequently occurs after the age of 40, making prevention particularly important in middle age and beyond.
● Diet: Be careful not to consume too much salt, as it can lead to high blood pressure. Adjust your cholesterol and calorie intake to prevent arteriosclerosis and blood clots.
● Smoking and alcohol consumption: Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, as these increase the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
● Aerobic exercise Aerobic exercise widens blood vessels and improves blood flow.
Aim for at least 20 minutes of exercise each day.
Reference for writing ①: https://www.yokohama-shintoshi.jp/brain/nokosoku.html
6. Summary: Regenerative medicine is also effective for subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Up until now, treatments for conditions like subarachnoid hemorrhage have relied on the expectation of replacing lost brain cells and tissues.
For example, rehabilitation alone is often insufficient to restore the patient to their original condition. However, regenerative medicine, such as stem cell therapy, is effective in improving after-effects because it regenerates and repairs blood vessels. Furthermore, since the patient's own cells are transplanted via intravenous infusion, the probability of rejection is low, making it highly safe.
If you are suffering from the after-effects of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, you might want to consider regenerative medicine.
Omotesando Helene Clinic specializes in regenerative medicine that is gentle on the body, and offers pre-treatment consultations for those who are hesitant to start treatment immediately.
Diabetes is related to lifestyle habits such as obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking, but it is generally said to be difficult to improve these lifestyle habits.
Therefore, by using "regenerative medicine" that utilizes the patient's own stem cells, it becomes possible to repair weakened cells in the body using the patient's own cells, thereby preventing and improving diabetes and its complications.
"I'm concerned, but I can't decide if prevention is really necessary right now." "I haven't decided whether to get treatment, but I'd like to hear more first." Even in such cases, there's absolutely no problem. Sometimes, you might be unknowingly facing a life-threatening risk, so...Please feel free to contact us anytime.
• Inquiry form (LINE, WeChat, email support):https://heleneclinic.com/contact/
[Regenerative Medicine Outpatient Clinic] 03-3400-2277
Supervised by: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda
