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Intracoronary infusion of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMC) in patients with healed MI leads to recovery of left ventricular diastolic function, a study from China shows.

Intracoronary infusion of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMC) in patients with healed myocardial infarction leads to recovery of left ventricular diastolic function but not systolic function, a study from China shows.

"Regeneration of the myocardium and improved ventricular function have been demonstrated in patients with acute MI treated by intracoronary delivery of autologous BMC a few days after successful myocardial reperfusion," the study team notes in a report in the September issue of the journal Heart. "However, the effects of intracoronary cell infusion in chronic MI patients are still unknown."

In a study involving 47 patients with stable ischemic heart disease due to previous MI, Dr. Junbo Ge from Fudan University, Shanghai and colleagues randomly assigned 24 to intracoronary infusion of BMC and 23 to saline infusion into the patent infarct-related artery. All patients had undergone successful percutaneous coronary intervention at least six months previously.

BMC treatment, compared to saline infusion, they report, did not lead to a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction or any changes in left ventricular end-diastolic and systolic volume, infarct size or myocardial perfusion.

However, after six months, BMC but not saline infusion was associated with recovery of left ventricular diastolic function, relative to baseline.

There were no noted complications with intracoronary BMC infusion.

"Our initial outcomes should be investigated further with a larger cohort and with a longer follow-up," the researchers conclude.

Heart 2008; 94: 1147-1153