Autologous intracoronary mononuclear bone marrow cell transplantation in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy in humans.
BACKGROUND
Recent data suggest that transplantation of autologous bone marrow cells (BMC) may contribute to myocardial repair after acute myocardial infarction. We hypothesized that patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy could also benefit from autologous BMC transplantation in addition to established heart failure therapy.


RESULTS
Five patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy caused by anterior myocardial infarction, 1.3+/-0.5 years ago and open infarct artery, received autologous mononuclear BMC transplantation via balloon catheter in the target vessel at the site of previous occlusion. Patients were followed up at 3 months (left heart catheterisation, 2D-echocardiography, dobutamine stress echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing) and at 12 months (2D-echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing). Follow-up examination showed no significant improvement neither in global, regional, and microvascular function, nor in physical performance.


CONCLUSIONS
In this pilot trial intracoronary transplantation of autologous, mononuclear BMC did not lead to any significant improvement in myocardial function and physical performance of patients with chronic ischemic heart disease.
Kuethe
Friedhelm
F
Klinik fuer Innere Medizin I, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740 Jena, Germany. Friedhelm.Kuethe@med.uni-jena.de
Richartz
Barbara M
BM
Kasper
Christoph
C
Sayer
Herbert G
HG
Hoeffken
Klaus
K
Werner
Gerald S
GS
Figulla
Hans R
HR
D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002404:Catheterization; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013318:Stroke Volume