Does stem cell therapy for ischemic cardiomyopathy result in the improvement of congestive heart failure?





Amit N Patel

Univeristy of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA



Background: Stem cell therapy has shown to improve left ventricular function in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Serum B type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been to used to evaluate the neurohormonal status of congestive heart failure symptoms. The goal of this study was to determine if serum BNP levels improved in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients under going stem cell therapy.

Methods: After IRB and government approval, adult autologous stem cell therapy was performed in patients with coronary artery disease and an ejection fraction of <35% who are going to have primary OPCAB. The patients were prospectively randomized before operative therapy was performed. Serum BNP levels were evaluated at one, three, and six months after therapy.

Results: There were fifty patients enrolled. In the study group, 25 patients had successful stem cells therapy into ischemic myocardium. The other 25 patients in the control group only had OPCAB. There were no perioperative arrhythmias, neurological or ischemic myocardial events in either group. The preoperative BNP levels were 962 vs 997 in control vs study group. At 6 months the BNP levels had dropped to 335 vs 693 in study vs control group.

Conclusions: Stem cell therapy results in a significant improvement in congestive heart failure as demonstrated by decreasing serum BNP levels. Stem cell therapy is a very promising treatment for ischemic cardiomyopathy.




Key words: Stem Cell Heart Failure Adult







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