Phung sought infertility treatment at Tam Anh General Hospital Ho Chi Minh City in 2024. Doctors diagnosed infertility due to advanced age and hydrosalpinx. She underwent egg stimulation, yielding 8 eggs and creating 6 quality embryos. Given the bilateral hydrosalpinx, doctors performed a hysteroscopy to collect an endometrial biopsy sample and remove both fallopian tubes.

Pathology results confirmed chronic endometritis. Phung received antibiotic treatment, followed by embryo transfer to her uterus, which resulted in a successful pregnancy in 5/2025. The fetus developed well. By 36 weeks of pregnancy, Phung and her husband opted to store stem cells for disease prevention and treatment, due to a significant family history of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

"Stem cells from cord blood and tissue have potential applications in treating 80 serious conditions, including blood, immune, cardiovascular, neurological, and certain metabolic diseases," stated Doctor Tham Thi Thu Nga, Head of the Lab at the Stem Cell Center, Tam Anh General Hospital system. For families with a history of cardiovascular disease or stroke, stem cell storage offers a modern medical preventative measure, increasing future treatment opportunities if illness occurs.

Numerous studies indicate that mesenchymal stem cells can help limit white matter damage in the brain, a factor directly impacting post-stroke cognitive ability. These cells can also transform into neural cells and persist in the brain, supporting brain function recovery. Initial clinical trials show mesenchymal stem cell therapy is safe, opening new prospects for neurological function treatment.

The Tissue Bank team, Tam Anh General Hospital Ho Chi Minh City, collected blood and umbilical cord tissue for Phung's son. Photo: Trung Vu.

Phung gave birth to a healthy baby boy weighing 3,8 kg. The baby's cord blood and tissue were collected and transported to the Tissue Bank at Tam Anh General Hospital Ho Chi Minh City for storage. The entire stem cell storage process followed a closed-loop procedure, ensuring sterility and strict quality control.

According to Doctor Thu Nga, stem cells from cord blood and tissue are not used immediately after collection but stored long-term under standard conditions. Stem cells are used when the storer or a relative has an appropriate indication in the future.

48 hours after birth, doctors took a heel prick blood sample from Phung's son, screening for 73 potential diseases. No congenital genetic abnormalities related to blood, red blood cells, or cardiovascular conditions were found.

Phung happily welcomed her first child at 43, after five years of infertility. Photo: Trung Vu.

An estimated 1,6 million people in Vietnam suffer from heart failure. The stroke incidence rate in Vietnam is 1,541 per 100,000 population, among the highest in Southeast Asia, creating a burden on the healthcare system.

Associate Professor Doctor Pham Nguyen Vinh, Director of the Cardiology Center, Tam Anh General Hospital Ho Chi Minh City, noted that many studies now show stem cell therapy reduces heart failure and neurological diseases. Stem cells have already been used to treat some blood cancers and lymphomas. In Vietnam, combined stem cell therapy for cardiovascular disease has been researched since 2010, offering a chance for a healthier life for cardiovascular patients.

Stem cell therapy for cardiovascular disease and stroke is not yet a routine treatment; most applications are currently in research and trial phases. According to Doctor Thu Nga, the application of stem cells must strictly comply with Ministry of Health regulations.

Tue Diem

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