Stem cells can improve heart function

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A small trial shows that injections of the patient's stem cells can improve heart function in severe heart failure.
There is increasing interest in the use of stem cells to repair damaged tissue. In a new study, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh now reveal that stem cells can help a damaged heart.

They looked at a group of 30 patients with severe congestive heart failure. Half of them received stem cells taken from their own body, while the other half received an injection of their own serum - with no stem cells. All 15 getting the stem cells, delivered to the heart by four tiny incisions in the chest, improved significantly in their heart functioning. The control group got slightly worse - but are going to receive the treatment once the follow-up period is complete.

The results look very promising, although it is not known whether the stem cells have become heart cells or where in the heart they are functioning. A chance to explore this will come with a future study of stem cell transplant followed by heart transplant. This will enable examination of the original heart to see what has happened with the stem cells.

Source
Meeting of the Society for Thoracic Surgery 25th January 2005