Peripheral blood stem cells transplantation in patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction:their efficiency and safety

Objective To compare the efficiency and safety of intracoronary transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) between elderly and younger patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI). Methods Twenty-five patients with heart failure after MI were divided into aged group(≥60 year, s=13) and non-aged group(<60years,n=12)to receive intracoronary PBSC transplantation (PBSCT) following bone marrow cells mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF). Clinical data including coronary lesion characteristic, left ventricular shape,infarct region area and cardiac function, as well as adverse side effects between the two groups were compared. Left ventricular function was evaluated before and 6 months after the treatment by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Results At 6 months, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 6 minute walk test (6MWT) distance increased, while the left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDd) decreased significantly in both groups. There were no significant difference between the two groups in absolute change in the cardiac function parameters. Conclusions The present study demonstrated that autologous intracoronary PBSCT might be safe and feasible for both old and younger patients with heart failure after MI and left ventricular function is significantly improved.