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

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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 effectsof intracoronary transplantation of BMSC in patients with oldmyocardial infarction (OMI). Autologous BMSCs were transplanted by the intracoronary method via percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA) in five patientswith 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 upangiography was performed 6-9 months (mean ± SD,7 ± 1.4months) after BMSC transplantation, which revealed anincreased trend in the LV ejection fraction (LVEF) of patientsafter treatment (LVEF: Mean ± SD from 34% ± 10.83% to46.25% ± 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 toI–II and Chest discomfort from Canadian CardiovascularSociety (CCS) Class II-IV to I-II]. Intracoronary transplantation of autologous BMSC in patients with old myocardialinfarction appears to be feasible, safe and effective .Thetherapeutic effect could be attributed to BMSCs ability toregenerate myocardium