Intracoronary Injection of CD133-Positive Enriched Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells Promotes Cardiac Recovery After Recent Myocardial Infarction: Feasibility and Safety

Abstract

Background— Bone marrow CD133-postive (CD133 + ) cells possess high hematopoietic and angiogenic capacity. We tested the feasibility, safety, and functional effects of the use of enriched CD133 + progenitor cells after intracoronary administration in patients with recent myocardial infarction. Methods and Results— Among 35 patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with stenting, 19 underwent intracoronary administration of CD133 + progenitor cells (12.6±2.2×10 6 cells) 11.6±1.4 days later (group 1) and 16 did not (group 2). At 4 months, left ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly in group 1 (from 45.0±2.6% to 52.1±3.5%, P <0.05), but only tended to increase in case-matched group 2 patients (from 44.3±3.1% to 48.6±3.6%, P =NS). Likewise, left ventricular regional chordae shortening increased in group 1 (from 11.5±1.0% to 16.1±1.3%, P <0.05) but remained unchanged in group 2 patients (from 11.1±1.1% to 12.7±1.3%, P =NS). This was paralleled by reduction in the perfusion defect in group 1 (from 28.0±4.1% to 22.5±4.1%, P <0.05) and no change in group 2 (from 25.0±3.0% to 22.6±4.1%, P =NS). In group 1, two patients developed in-stent reocclusion, 7 developed in-stent restenosis, and 2 developed significant de novo lesion of the infarct-related artery. In group 2, four patients showed in-stent restenosis. In group 1 patients without reocclusion, glucose uptake shown by positron emission tomography with 18 fluorodeoxyglucose in the infarct-related territory increased from 51.2±2.6% to 57.5±3.5% ( P <0.05). No stem cell-related arrhythmias were noted, either clinically or during programmed stimulation studies at 4 months. Conclusion— In patients with recent myocardial infarction, intracoronary administration of enriched CD133 + cells is feasible but was associated with increased incidence of coronary events. Nevertheless, it seems to be associated with improved left ventricular performance paralleled with increased myocardial perfusion and viability.