Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2026
Intramyocardial Cell Delivery: Observations in Murine Hearts
Published on: January 24, 2014
Catheter-based autologous bone marrow myocardial injection in no-option patients with advanced coronary artery
Shmuel Fuchs1, Lowell F Satler, Ran Kornowski
1Cardiovascular Research Institute, MedStar Research Institute, Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving Street NW, 4B-1, Washington, DC 20010, USA. sfuchsel2002@yahoo.com
Insights
This pilot study shows that transendocardial injection of autologous bone marrow (ABM) is a feasible strategy for treating chronic myocardial ischemia. The procedure was safe and improved angina symptoms and perfusion in patients ineligible for traditional revascularization.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative medicine
- Cardiovascular research
- Cell therapy
Background:
- Transendocardial injection of autologous bone marrow (ABM) cells has shown potential in enhancing perfusion in porcine models of myocardial ischemia.
- Severe symptomatic chronic myocardial ischemia poses a significant challenge for patients unresponsive to conventional revascularization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of transendocardial delivery of autologous bone marrow (ABM) in patients with severe chronic myocardial ischemia.
- To evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of this novel therapeutic approach.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving ten patients with severe symptomatic chronic myocardial ischemia.
- Transendocardial injection of freshly aspirated and filtered autologous bone marrow (ABM) using electromechanical guidance.
- Delivery of twelve 0.2 ml injections into ischemic, non-infarcted myocardium identified by SPECT imaging.
Main Results:
- Autologous bone marrow injection was successfully performed in all patients without serious adverse effects, including no arrhythmias, infections, or increased scar formation.
- Significant improvement in Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina score (p = 0.001) and reduced stress-induced ischemia in injected territories (p < 0.001) at three months.
- While treadmill exercise duration increased, the change was not statistically significant (p = 0.11).
Conclusions:
- Catheter-based transendocardial delivery of autologous bone marrow (ABM) is a feasible strategy for treating ischemic myocardium.
- This approach offers a potential new therapeutic option for patients with severe chronic myocardial ischemia who are not candidates for conventional revascularization.
Objectives:
We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of transendocardial delivery of autologous bone marrow (ABM) strategy in patients with severe symptomatic chronic myocardial ischemia not amenable to conventional revascularization.
Background:
Transendocardial injection of ABM cells appears to enhance perfusion of ischemic porcine myocardium.
Methods:
Ten patients underwent transendocardial injection of freshly aspirated and filtered unfractionated ABM using left ventricular electromechanical guidance. Twelve injections of 0.2 ml each were successfully delivered into ischemic noninfarcted myocardium pre-identified by single-photon emission computed tomography perfusion imaging.
Results:
Autologous bone marrow injection was successful in all patients and was associated with no serious adverse effects; in particular, there was no arrhythmia, evidence of infection, myocardial inflammation, or increased scar formation. Two patients were readmitted for recurrent chest pain. At three months, Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina score significantly improved (3.1 +/- 0.3 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.94, p = 0.001), as well as stress-induced ischemia occurring within the injected territories (2.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.8, p < 0.001). Treadmill exercise duration, available in nine patients, increased, but the change was not significant (391 +/- 155 vs. 485 +/- 198, p = 0.11).
Conclusions:
This study provides preliminary clinical data indicating feasibility of catheter-based transendocardial delivery of ABM to ischemic myocardium.
More Related Videos
06:47Echocardiography-guided Injection for Targeted and Reliable Intramyocardial Stem Cell Delivery in a Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction
Published on: July 25, 2025
14:24Percutaneous Contrast Echocardiography-guided Intramyocardial Injection and Cell Delivery in a Large Preclinical Model
Published on: January 21, 2018