Stem Cells Effective for Failing Hearts: Study

A recent study looks at how stem cells could be effective in treating patients with severe ischemic heart disease and heart failure. They found that stem cells found in bone marrow that are injected directly into the heart muscle could work as an effective source of treatment.

"Our results show that this stem cell treatment is safe and it improves heart function when compared to placebo," said Anders Bruun Mathiasen, M.D., research fellow in the Cardiac Catherization Lab at Rigshospitalet University Hospital Copenhagen, and lead investigator of the study, via a press release. "This represents an exciting development that has the potential to benefit many people who suffer from this common and deadly disease."

Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, is the number one cause of death among both men and women in the United States, according to background information from the findings. With the gradual buildup of plaque in the heart's coronary arteries, it can increase the risk of chest pain, heart attack and even heart failure.

For the study, researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized trial that helped to treat patients with chronic ischemic heart failure by injecting a type of stem cell known as mesenchymal stromal cells directly into the heart muscle. Fifty-nine patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and severe heart failure were involved in the study, each who first underwent a procedure to extract a small amount of bone marrow. The bone marrow was then isolated from the marrow under a small number of mesenchymal stromal cells induced to self-replicate. Next, patients received either a saline solution injection or injection of their own cultured mesenchymal stromal cells into the heart muscles through a catheter inserted in the groin.

Six months following treatment, findings showed that patients who had received stem cell injections had improved heart function compared to patients who received the placebo.

"Isolating and culturing the stem cells is a relatively straightforward process, and the procedure to inject the stem cells into the heart requires only local anesthesia, so it appears to be all-in-all a promising treatment for patients who have no other options," Mathiasen said, via the release.

However, researchers also note that these treatments will not help patients who continue to face fatigue, shortness of brerath and accumulation of fluid in the lungs and legs.

More information regarding the findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology's 63^rd Annual Scientific Session.