Patients' own stem cells used to repair their hearts- The Lancet

Encouraging results have come from a study looking at the safety and health improvements when using cardiac cells to repair damaged tissues of the heart. In the trial patients with heart failure had tissue removed from the right atrial appendage during a heart bypass operation.

The stem cells isolated from this cardiac tissue were cultured (until there were 2 million cells per patient) given before being injected into the patient 100 days later. 7/14 of the patients were given stem cell treatment with the other patients remaining in the control group.

The doctors worked out the percentage efficiency by looking at the left ventricle ejection fraction (% of blood leaving LV per beat). There was 30.3% increase which then raised by 38.5% after 4 months. However some doctors are concerned that the placebo effect has not been controlled with no placebo treatment given to those 7 control patients. Also it can be noted by experts that ejection fraction is not the same as a measurement for the quality of life.

The use of stem cells from the bone marrow is also being investigated in London with randomised clinincal trials looking to help patients within 6 hours of a heart attack in NHS trusts. Although results are also 'promising' we are still at early stages.