Bone marrow-derived stem cells as an adjunctive treatment for acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and...

to confirm the beneficial effect of BMCs therapy over placebo in AMI patients with inclusion only to the randomized double blind placebo-controlled trials.

we searched multiple database (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, CINAHL) through January 2011 for randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of BMCs for the treatment of AMI. We subsequently performed a random-effect meta-analysis to assess the eligible studies included related to the primary outcomes (mean LVEF, LVESV, and LVEDV changes from baseline) and secondary outcomes (all-cause mortality, recurrent MI, rehospitalization for HF).

ten RCTs (total=906 patients) were included. BMCs therapy was proven superior to placebo regarding mean LVEF change (2.07%; 95% CI, 0.55% to 3.59%; [I2=57%; p=0.008]), LVESV (5.52 mL; 95% CI, -7.68 mL to -3.36 mL; [I2=16%; p<0.00001]), and LVEDV (3.08 mL; 95% CI, -5.57 mL to -0.58 mL; [I2=23%, p=0.02]) from baseline. BMCs therapy showed no difference with regards to mortality events when compared to placebo (OR 1.01; 95% CI, 0.35 to 2.94; [I2=0%; p=0.98]), but exerts protective effects toward recurrent MI (OR 0.45; 95% CI, 0.09 to 2.16; [I2=8%; p=0.32]) and rehospitalization for HF (OR 0.39; 95% CI, 0.08 to 1.85; [I2=0%; p=0.24]). All outcomes were sustained for a long period of time (up to 5 years).

the resulting meta-analysis concluded that BMCs therapy consistently improves cardiac performance parameters (LVEF, LVESV, and LVEDV) when compared to placebo, even after the establishment of primary intervention. It is also safe to use and prevents the development of recurrent MI and HF.