title: Cardiac function in dogs with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation into the coronary arteries.
abstract: This study assessed the effects of a single intracoronary injection of autologous stem cells on the cardiac function of dogs with Chagas cardiomyopathy. Bone-marrow-derived stem cells were delivered into the right and left coronary arteries of 5 mature dogs with mildly compromised cardiac function due to chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. Blood pressure and electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters were recorded at monthly intervals for 6 mo in the 3 dogs that survived. Although no changes were observed in the electrocardiogram and blood pressure, there was a significant increase in peak velocity of aortic flow 3 mo after stem cell transplantation. Pre-ejection period, isovolumic relaxation time, and the Tei index of myocardial performance were reduced significantly 4 mo after the procedure. All significant changes persisted to the end of the study. The results suggest that the transplantation of autologous bone-marrow-derived stem cells into the coronary arteries of dogs with Chagas cardiomyopathy may have a beneficial effect but the small number of dogs studied was a limitation.
authors.affiliation: The Federal University of Tocantins State (UFT), College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Tocantins, Brazil. john.ellis@usask.ca
authors.forename: Marlos G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paulino-Junior
authors.forename: João P E
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pascon
authors.forename: Gláucia B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Pereira-Neto
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carareto
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.forename: Aparecido A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Camacho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000662:veterinary*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome