title: Intramyocardial delivery of bone marrow mononuclear cells and mechanical assist device implantation in patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy.
abstract: In end-stage heart failure, mechanical ventricular assist devices (VAD) are being used as bridge-to-transplantation, as a bridge-to-recovery, or as the definitive therapy. We tested the hypothesis that myocardial implantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) increases the likelihood of successful weaning from left VAD (LVAD) support. Ten patients (aged 14-60 years) with deteriorating heart function underwent LVAD implantation and concomitant implantation of autologous BMNC. Bone marrow was harvested prior to VAD implantation and BMNC were prepared by density centrifugation. Two patients received a pulsatile, extracorporeal LVAD and eight a nonpulsatile implantable device. Between 52 and 164 x 10(7) BMNC containing between 1 and 12 x 10(6) CD34+ cells were injected into the LV myocardium. There was one early and one late death. The median time on LVAD support was 243 days (range 24-498 days). Repeated echocardiographic examinations under increased hemodynamic load revealed a significant improvement of LV function in one patient. Three patients underwent heart transplantation, and four patients remain on LVAD support >1 year without evidence of recovery. Only one patient was successfully weaned from LVAD support after 4 months, and LV function has remained stable ever since. In patients with endstage cardiomyopathy, intramyocardial injection of BMNC at the time of LVAD implantation does not seem to increase the likelihood of successful weaning from VAD support. Other cell-based strategies should be pursued to harness the potential of cell therapy in LVAD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Boris A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Nasseri
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kukucka
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dandel
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knosalla
authors.forename: Evgenij
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Potapov
authors.forename: Hans B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lehmkuhl
authors.forename: Rudolph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ebell
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stamm
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hetzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left