Additive value of adult bone-marrow-derived cell transplantation to conventional revascularization in chronic ischemic heart disease: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

Whether adult bone marrow (BM)-derived cells (BMCs) transplantation benefits patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains controversial. This systemic and meta-analysis study aimed to assess the potential therapeutic effects of BMCs transplantation with revascularization in chronic IHD.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Randomized controlled trials of BMCs in combination with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic IHD were identified by searching Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis across eligible studies measuring the same outcomes.

RESULTS

Ten randomized controlled trials including 422 participants were reviewed. In the trials with six months of follow-up, BMCs transplantation improved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) by 4.02% and reduced LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes. Subgroup analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in LVEF associated with primary intervention, route of cell delivery, cell type, and baseline LVEF, but not with cell dose or storage duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Selected-BMCs transplantation through myocardial injection after surgical revascularization may benefit patients with chronic IHD and severely impaired LV function. Due to the limitation of patient number, RCT with larger sample size and long follow-up are required for future research.