Repair of Old Myocardial Infarction by Intracoronary Transplantation of Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Pilot Clinical Trial

Experimental and clinical studies have shown that intracoronary transplantation of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) has resulted in regenerated infarcted myocardium and improved left ventricular (LV) function. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the benefical effects of intracoronary transplantation of BMSC in patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI). Autologous BMSCs were transplanted by the intracoronary method via percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA) in five patients with old myocardial infarction. Time from myocardial infarction (MI) to cell therapy was 5.2 ± 3.11 months (mean ± SD). All patients were <70 years old (32-61 years) and had significant LV dysfunction (LV ejection fraction, mean ± SD, 34% ± 10.83%), and severe wall motion abnormality (akinesia and / dyskinesia) at the location of infarcted area. Follow up angiography was performed 6-9 months (mean ± SD,7 ± 1.4 months) after BMSC transplantation, which revealed an increased trend in the LV ejection fraction (LVEF) of patients after treatment (LVEF: Mean ± SD from 34% ± 10.83% to 46.25% ± 9.46%, P= 0.051 and median from 35% to 42.5%). Clinical follow up (for 12-18 months) also revealed appreciable improvement in their symptoms or functional class [dyspnea from New York Heart Association(NYHA)-Class Ш-IV to I–II and Chest discomfort from Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Class II-IV to I-II]. Intracoronary transplantation of autologous BMSC in patients with old myocardial infarction appears to be feasible, safe and effective .The therapeutic effect could be attributed to BMSCs ability to regenerate myocardium