Abstract

Background: The implantation of a CD133+ bone marrow cell population into an ischemic myocardium has emerged as a promising therapeutic modality for myocardial regeneration and restoration of ventricular contractility. While previous studies have documented the short-term safety and efficacy of CD133+ cell transplantation in patients with acute myocardial infarction, there are few reports of long-term follow-up results. Here, we present the results of long-term follow-up of our acute myocardial infarction patients who were treated with intra-myocardial injection of CD133+ cells after coronary bypass graft. Methods: After five years, 13 patients in the cell transplantation group and 5 patients in the control group underwent safety and efficacy investigations by New York Heart Association classification and two-dimensional echocardiography (2D echo). Results: During the five-year study period, no major cardiac adverse events were reported among patients who received CD133+ stem cells. Regarding efficiency, we observed no statistically significant treatment effects for the echocardiographic parameters left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, and resting ejection fraction measured during the follow-up period. However, detailed analysis of regional wall motion revealed an improvement in the Wall Motion Score Index from baseline to the six month follow-up, which was maintained during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Taken together, the long-term results of the present study indicate that transplantation of CD133+ is a safe and feasible procedure; however, we could not show any major benefits in our patients. Thus, this issue needs to be addressed by conducting other studies with more patients.