Cited 3 times since 2019 (0.6 per year) source: EuropePMC Netherlands heart journal : monthly journal of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Heart Foundation, Volume 27, Issue 2, 1 1 2019, Pages 81-92 Intramyocardial bone marrow cell injection does not lead to functional improvement in patients with chronic ischaemic heart failure without considerable ischaemia. Mann I, Tseng CCS, Rodrigo SF, Koudstaal S, van Ramshorst J, Beeres SL, Dibbets-Schneider P, de Geus-Oei LF, Lamb HJ, Wolterbeek R, Zwaginga JJ, Fibbe WE, Westinga K, Bax JJ, Doevendans PA, Schalij MJ, Chamuleau SAJ, Atsma DE

Background

It has been suggested that bone marrow cell injection may have beneficial effects in patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease. However, previous trials have led to discrepant results of cell-based therapy in patients with chronic heart failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intramyocardial injection of mononuclear bone marrow cells in patients with chronic ischaemic heart failure with limited stress-inducible myocardial ischaemia.

Methods and results

This multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial included 39 patients with no-option chronic ischaemic heart failure with a follow-up of 12 months. A total of 19 patients were randomised to autologous intramyocardial bone marrow cell injection (cell group) and 20 patients received a placebo injection (placebo group). The primary endpoint was the group difference in change of left ventricular ejection fraction, as determined by single-photon emission tomography. On follow-up at 3 and 12 months, change of left ventricular ejection fraction in the cell group was comparable with change in the placebo group (P = 0.47 and P = 0.08, respectively). Also secondary endpoints, including left ventricle volumes, myocardial perfusion, functional and clinical parameters did not significantly change in the cell group as compared to placebo. Neither improvement was demonstrated in a subgroup of patients with stress-inducible ischaemia (P = 0.54 at 3‑month and P = 0.15 at 12-month follow-up).

Conclusion

Intramyocardial bone marrow cell injection does not improve cardiac function, nor functional and clinical parameters in patients with severe chronic ischaemic heart failure with limited stress-inducible ischaemia.

Clinical trial registration

NTR2516.

Neth Heart J. 2019 2;27(2):81-92