Stem cells against heart attack: another success
Scientists have successfully used stem cells to treat myocardial infarctionDmitry Safin, "Kompyulenta"
Specialists from the Hospital of Cordoba named after Queen Sofia (Spain) managed to significantly improve the heart performance of a group of patients by injecting stem cells into the coronary artery.
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this technique, scientists selected 30 patients from among those who had experienced a severe heart attack, and randomly divided them into three equal groups. Patients from the first – control group underwent the usual course of treatment prescribed for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. To the representatives of the second group, doctors, using a catheter, injected bone marrow stem cells directly into the coronary artery, and patients from the third group took a drug containing the substance G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony stimulating factor), under the influence of which bone marrow cells can naturally enter the heart area through the blood. (The picture shows the stem cells used in the testing process).
At the end of the trial period, it turned out that the condition of all patients improved, but the most significant changes (reduction in the number of cases of pain, shortness of breath and other symptoms of heart failure) were noted in the second group. According to the authors, the positive effect of stem cells can be explained by the fact that they promote the regeneration of heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes), as well as stimulate the process of angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels).
It should be noted that the method of treating heart diseases using stem cells is not new, but it is still not used in everyday practice; only its clinical trials are being conducted. According to Spanish specialists, they have recently begun to study the effectiveness of this kind of therapy on the example of a group of eight patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy; the current results are encouraging. "In addition, we will soon test stem cell treatment on diabetic patients who have partially blocked the artery that delivers blood to the lower extremities," Concha Herrera, who heads the research group, shares her plans.
The full version of the researchers' report is published in the journal Revista Española de Cardiología.
Prepared based on the materials of AlphaGalileo.
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