title: Angiogenesis in ischemic human myocardium: clinical results after 3 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using the human fibroblast growth factor we could already demonstrate the induction of neoangiogenesis in the ischemic human myocardium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients, who were undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly selected and allotted either to a treatment or a control group. In 20 patients (study group) fibroblast growth factor was injected directly into the myocardium, close to the left anterior descending coronary artery. The control group comprised 20 patients who had been injected with heat denatured fibroblast growth factor. The 3-year follow-up consisted of a clinical examination, echocardiography, and selective imaging of the internal mammary artery bypass using angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As with the early results, a dense new capillary network could be demonstrated angiographically in the region where the factor had been injected. Echocardiography showed an increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction in the study group. We also found a more pronounced improvement in the clinical appearance of the patients with fibroblast growth factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fibroblast growth factor, in addition to operative myocardial revascularization, may be the appropriate treatment for patients with peripheral stenosis or diffuse coronary arteriosclerosis. It is necessary to confirm these results in further studies on a larger group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, Germany. peter.pecher@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pecher
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Schumacher
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic
chemical_list: D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors