Progenitor Cells in Heart Failure

Progenitor Cells in Heart Failure

Fischer-Rasokat U, Assmus B, Seeger FH, Honold J, Leistner D, Fichtlscherer S, Schachinger J, Tonn T, Martin H, Dimmeler S, Zeiher AM. A Pilot Trial to Assess Potential Effects of Selective Intracoronary Bone Marrow–Derived Progenitor Cell Infusion in Patients With Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Final 1-Year Results of the Transplantation of Progenitor Cells and Functional Regeneration Enhancement Pilot Trial in Patients With Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Circ Heart Fail 2009;2:417-423.

Synopsis:
Intracoronary infusion of BMC was applied in 33 patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy.  After 3 months, regional wall motion of the target area and global left ventricular ejection fraction  improved.  After 12 months, serum NT-proBNP decreased, indicating an attenuation of left ventricular remodeling.

Commentary:
Recent experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that either intracoronary or intramyocardial administration of bone marrow–derived progenitor cells (BMC) may contribute to increased neovascularization and stimulated angiogenesis in ischaemic tissue.  The presented study provides premises that also patients with non-ischaemic may benefit from BMC administration, however precise mechanisms of these beneficial effects remain unclear.