Two small studies suggest that stem cells may help repair damage caused by a heart attack.

Stem cells are cells which have not yet 'committed' themselves to making a specific tissue. Accordingly, they may be moulded to make cells of various types, which might be used to repair tissue damage. In two new studies, stem cells from patients' bone marrow has been shown to be a safe way of potentially repairing damage to heart muscle, after a heart attack.

Researchers in Germany injected stem cells into damaged heart muscle during coronary bypass operations in six patients who had had a heart attack. All survived and five had strikingly improved blood flow to the heart - although it is not clear if this was due to the bypass or to the stem cells (or both).

Another study, from doctors in Hong Kong, involved eight patients receiving stem cells through a catheter. All had improved heart function three months after the procedure. These are just preliminary studies, however. Much more research is needed to determine whether stem cell transplantation will be of real benefit to heart patients.

Source

The Lancet 4th January 2003