Treating heart disease with bone marrow cells
- An injection into the heart muscle with cells from the bone marrow can treat heart disease. This is 
according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
· Investigators report on a study to treat patients with chronic heart disease. In this study, investigators used cells from the patient’s bone marrow and injected them directly into the wall of the heart. Study authors report this technique improved heart function by three months after the procedure.
· This was a placebo controlled, double-blinded prospective study of 50 patients and took place over a three months period.
· Patients who received an injection with their bone marrow cells had a statistically significant improvement in their heart function when assessed at 3 months.
· This is an interesting and novel treatment for refractory heart disease. The study authors do not discuss the a mechanism to explain why patient would benefit from the bone marrow injection in to their heart.
The cells of the heart do not divide and heart cells that have died do not regenerate or get replaced by new cells. It is likely that their bone marrow contained “stem cells” which can induce the formation of a new heart cell.
· Heart disease is a common disease in the United States and current treatment for refractory chronic heart disease in unsatisfactory. Current treatment is limited to medications and in severe cases, cardiac bypass grafting surgery. This technique would be a big advancement in the treatment of heart disease and is a significantly easier option to traditional heart surgery.
More studies are needed to confirm these results and to determine the long term benefit of bone marrow injections.
Cristopher Geiler, MD
May 22nd, 2009
Reference
JAMA. 2009;301(19):1997-2004
Posted on May 23, 2009
