Additionally, the transplant of stem cells into the heart muscles led to fewer deaths as opposed to those who did not get the treatment.
Principal investigator Dr. Douglas Losordo at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine stated, "This is the first study to show significant benefit in pain reduction and improved exercise capacity in this population with very advanced heart disease.”
Details of the 12-month trial
The researchers conducted a 12-month Phase II double blind placebo-controlled trial that included 167 adult patients with chronic severe angina and advanced heart disease.
With the aid of sophisticated electromechanical mapping device, the scientists identified the damaged blood vessels in the heart and injected the CD34+ into 10 locations in the heart muscle.
CD34+ is a cluster of differentiation molecules present on the stem cells within the human body.
The purpose was to stimulate the growth of small blood vessels in the heart. According to scientists lack of circulation in the cells that surround the heart causes blocked arteries leading to angina.
The patients in the placebo group received saline injections.
Outcome of the treatment
The outcome of the treatment was remarkable. The researchers noted that patients were able to double their walking time (60 seconds on average) after stem cell transplant.
In addition, the treatment group experienced less daily chest pain, were able to walk twice as long before the angina, and the pain diminished sooner with rest as compared to the placebo group.
Losordo stated, "The results from this study provide the first evidence that a patient's own stem cells could actually be used as a treatment for their heart disease.”
He added, "The study provides potential hope for those patients with currently untreatable angina to be more active with less pain.”
However, he cautions that although the findings of the 25-site trial offers great potential for the treatment of serious heart problems further studies are needed for verification.
The findings of the study were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2009.
About angina
Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle are deprived of enough oxygen-rich blood. It feels like pressure, indigestion or squeezing in the chest.
The pain also may also occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
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