Bone marrow cell transplants may benefit heart disease patients

Washington, Feb 24 (ANI): Two new studies, conducted by scientists in Brazil and China, may lead to novel treatments for heart diseases.

The first study, conducted by Brazilian researchers, found that cell transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) directly into the heart benefited patients suffering from refractory angina.

A separate study, carried out by researchers in the Peoples' Republic of China, found that apelin, a newly described inotropic peptide, improves heart function following transplantation of BMMCs.

The team of Brazilian researchers has evaluated the safety and efficacy of a surgical procedure involving multiple injections into the heart (intramyocardial) of a bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) formulation derived from the patient (autologous) called "Refractory Angina Cell Therapy (ReACT)".

The researchers found that the procedure benefited all eight of the refractory angina patients in the study, all of whom had previously received surgical revascularization.

The results of the second study, carried out at the Navy General Hospital in Beijing, was based on the evaluation of 40 patients with severe heart failure following myocardial infarction.

Twenty patients were assigned to receive BMMC transplants and 20 received standard medication. Another 20 healthy patients were assigned as controls.

The studies have been published in the latest issue of Cell Transplantation. (ANI)