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Updated: Jul 22, 2026
Intraspinal Cell Transplantation for Targeting Cervical Ventral Horn in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: September 18, 2011
Autologous bone marrow-derived stem-cell transfer in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction:
Stefan Janssens1, Christophe Dubois, Jan Bogaert
1Department of Cardiology, Gasthuisberg University Hospital, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Stefan.Janssens@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
Insights
Autologous bone marrow-derived stem cell (BMSC) transfer did not improve global left-ventricular (LV) function after myocardial infarction. However, BMSC therapy significantly reduced infarct size and improved regional systolic function in STEMI patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) often leads to impaired left-ventricular (LV) function despite reperfusion therapies.
- Autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) are being investigated to mitigate post-infarction cardiac damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of intracoronary BMSC transfer in improving LV function and structure post-STEMI.
- To assess the impact of BMSC therapy on infarct size, regional LV function, myocardial perfusion, and oxidative metabolism.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 67 STEMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
- Patients received optimal medical treatment plus either placebo or autologous BMSC infusion into the infarct-related artery.
- Left-ventricular ejection fraction, infarct size, regional function, perfusion, and metabolism were assessed by MRI and PET at 4 months.
Main Results:
- BMSC transfer did not significantly increase global LV ejection fraction compared to placebo at 4 months (p=0.36).
- BMSC therapy led to a significant reduction in myocardial infarct size (28% reduction, p=0.036) and enhanced regional systolic function recovery.
- Myocardial perfusion and metabolism showed similar increases in both groups; BMSC transfer was well-tolerated.
Conclusions:
- Intracoronary autologous BMSC transfer within 24 hours of reperfusion therapy does not improve global LV function recovery post-STEMI.
- BMSC therapy may favorably influence infarct remodeling and reduce infarct size, suggesting potential benefits for cardiac structure and regional function.
Background:
The benefit of reperfusion therapies for ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) is limited by post-infarction left-ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Our aim was to investigate the effect of autologous bone marrow-derived stem cell (BMSC) transfer in the infarct-related artery on LV function and structure.
Methods:
We did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 67 patients from whom we harvested bone marrow 1 day after successful percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI. We assigned patients optimum medical treatment and infusion of placebo (n=34) or BMSC (n=33). Our primary endpoint was the increase in LV ejection fraction and our secondary endpoints were change in infarct size and regional LV function at 4 months' follow-up, all assessed by MRI. We assessed changes in myocardial perfusion and oxidative metabolism with serial 1-[11C]acetate PET. Analyses were per protocol. This study is registered with , number NCT00264316.
Findings:
Mean global LV ejection fraction 4 days after percutaneous coronary intervention was 46.9% (SD 8.2) in controls and 48.5% (7.2) in BMSC patients, and increased after 4 months to 49.1% (10.7) and 51.8% (8.8; OR for treatment effect 1.036, 95% CI 0.961-1.118, p=0.36). Compared with placebo infusion, BMSC transfer was associated with a significant reduction in myocardial infarct size (BMSC treatment effect 28%, p=0.036) and a better recovery of regional systolic function. Myocardial perfusion and metabolism increased similarly in both groups. We noted no complications associated with BMSC transfer and all but one patient in the BMSC group completed the 4 months' follow-up.
Interpretation:
Intracoronary transfer of autologous bone marrow cells within 24 h of optimum reperfusion therapy does not augment recovery of global LV function after myocardial infarction, but could favourably affect infarct remodelling.
