Autologous transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear stem cells by mini-thoracotomy in dilated cardiomyopathy: technique and early results.
OBJECTIVE
There are few studies concerning bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMC) transplantation in cases of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. This study describes a novel technique of BMMC transplantation and the results up to one year after the procedure.


METHODS
This was a case series to evaluate the safety and viability of the procedure, at Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul.


METHODS
Nine patients with symptomatic dilated cardiomyopathy, functional class III/IV and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 35% received BMMC (9.6 +/- 2.6 x 107 cells) at 20 sites in the ventricular wall, by means of thoracotomy of length 5 cm in the fifth left intercostal space. Echocardiograms and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were performed.


RESULTS
There were no major complications. The functional class results for the first six patients (preoperatively and at two, four, eight and twelve-month follow-ups, respectively) were: [IV-2, III-4] to [I-5, II-1] to [I-3, II-3] to [I-2, II-3] and [I-2, II-3]. Echocardiograms showed LVEF: 25.9 +/- 8.2; 32.9 +/- 10.4; 29.4 +/- 7.2; 25.1 +/- 7.9; 25.4 +/- 6.8% (p = 0.023); and % left ventricular (LV) fiber shortening: 12.6 +/- 4.4; 16.4 +/- 5.4; 14.3 +/- 3.7; 12.1 +/- 4.0; 12.2 +/- 3.4% (p = 0.021). LV performance variation seen on NMR was non-significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Intramyocardial transplantation of BMMC in dilated cardiomyopathy cases is feasible and safe. There were early improvements in symptoms and LV performance. Medium-term evaluation revealed regression of LV function, although maintaining improved functional class.
Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul, Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. kalil@cardiologia.org.br
Renato Abdala Karam
RA
Kalil
Daniele
D
Ott
Roberto
R
Sant'Anna
Eduardo
E
Dias
João Pedro
JP
Marques-Pereira
Andrés
A
Delgado-Cañedo
Nance Beyer
NB
Nardi
João Ricardo Michelin
JR
Sant'Anna
Paulo Roberto
PR
Prates
Ivo
I
Nesralla
D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology