Local implantation of autologous bone marrow cells for therapeutic angiogenesis in patients with ischemic heart disease - Clinical trial and preliminary results

A new therapy for severe ischemic heart disease has been developed; therape utic angiogenesis induced by the local implantation of autologous bone marr ow cells (BMC). After confirming that no detrimental changes were induced b y this treatment in a canine heart model, a clinical trial was commenced in 1999. Thus far, 5 patients have been given this new treatment concomitant with coronary artery bypass grafting and all have been followed up for at l east I year. Autologous BMC were implanted into the ungraftable area and po stoperative cardiac scintigraphy showed specific improvement in coronary pe rfusion in 3 of the 5 patients. Postoperative chest radiography, electrocar diography, echocardiography and blood tests did not reveal any detrimental changes. In conclusion, this new therapy appears to be safe and could provi de a treatment option for patients with otherwise untreatable ischemic hear t disease.