Can patients' stem cells fight heart disease? Study builds on existing fix-it response to damaged tissue

Source: Pioneer Press
Posted: May. 29, 2006

Summary:

Researchers at the Minneapolis Heart Institute are conducting a study to test if injections of heart attack patients' own bone marrow cells could prevent congestive heart failure.

The potential new benefit from stem cell therapy is the ability to prevent muscle loss, whereas other options compensate for muscle loss.

The 60 patients in the study will come from two Minneapolis-area medical institutions.

In the study, the cells will be surgically extracted from the patients' bone marrow three to seven days after their heart attacks. Scientists at the University of Minnesota will isolate the stem cells and return them to the hospitals. The cells will be injected through a catheter and descend via an artery into the heart.

If donated cells can be transplanted safely, they could offer a faster and cheaper method than extracting cells from heart attack patients.

Commentary: Hopefully this study will yield successful results using stem cells to treat heart attack patients and provide researchers with new insights and strategies for administering stem cell treatments safely and effectively.