[Intracoronary stem cell transplantation in acute myocardial infarction].
OBJECTIVE
Experimental and clinical studies suggest that necrotic myocardium may have the capacity to regenerate. We have started a clinical study to demonstrate that the intracoronary implantation of stem cells is feasible and safe. The results in our first 5 patients are presented here.


METHODS
We included patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction and isolated stenosis of the left anterior descending artery that was successfully repaired by primary or facilitated angioplasty. Patients received an intracoronary infusion of bone marrow-derived cells 10-15 days after the infarction. The follow-up protocol included low-dose dobutamine echocardiography, magnetic resonance studies and ECG Holter monitoring.


RESULTS
The procedure was carried out with no complications. No patient had a cardiac event during the first 6 months. One patient had a transient ischemic attack without sequelae. No arrhythmias were found. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume remained the same at 6 months (159+/-25 ml, 157+/-16 ml), left ventricular end-systolic volume decreased (77+/-22 ml, 65+/-16 ml), and the ejection fraction increased (53+/-7%, 58+/-8%) although no statistically significant differences were found. In the 3 patients in whom dobutamine echocardiography ruled out viability, we found a significant reduction in both volumes.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracoronary bone marrow-derived cell transplantation after an acute myocardial infarction seems to be safe and feasible, and might lead to favorable remodeling.
Avilés
Francisco F
FF
Instituto de Ciencias del Corazón (ICICOR), Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valladolid. Spain. faviles@secardiologia.es
San Román
José A
JA
García Frade
Javier
J
Valdés
Mariano
M
Sánchez
Ana
A
de la Fuente
Luis
L
Peñarrubia
María J
MJ
Fernández
María E
ME
Tejedor
Paula
P
Durán
Juan M
JM
Hernández
Carolina
C
Sanz
Ricardo
R
García Sancho
Javier
J
D000368:Aged; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000502:physiology