Effect of autologous bone marrow cell transplantation combined with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting on cardiac function in patients with chronic myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effects of intramuscular injections of autologous bone marrow cells (BMC) combined with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafts (OPCAB) on improving cardiac function in chronic myocardial infarction patients.

METHODS

Ninety patients with chronic myocardial infarction were prospectively enrolled and randomized to an OPCAB with saline or an OPCAB with BMC-treatment group. After finishing CABG, patients received injections of BMC or saline into the marginal area of the infarct. The primary endpoint was incidence of emergent adverse events within 6 months.

RESULTS

There were no differences between the control and BMC-treated groups in baseline ejection fractions (EF) or wall motion score indices (WMSI) in the affected segments. At the 6-month follow-up, the ejection fraction was significantly increased in the BMC-treated group compared to controls (47.58 ± 6.34 vs. 40.11 ± 7.42; p < 0.05), whereas the WMSI were significantly decreased (1.25 ± 0.32 vs. 1.54 ± 0.53; p < 0.05), with no occurrences of life-threatening arrhythmias or death. The addition of BMC injections to OPCAB treatment increased regional perfusion to the marginal infarct area.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that BMC transplant is beneficial to the cardiac function with no adverse effects, and therefore a safe and feasible adjunct therapy providing beneficial effects in clinical practice.