Intracoronary delivery of bone-marrow-derived stem cells
Cardiovascular Division, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2010, 1:29 doi:10.1186/scrt29
Published: 23 September 2010Abstract
Ischemic heart disease is the single greatest killer of Americans and its complications are a major cause of congestive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias while signifiicantly contributing to increased health care costs and reduced patient quality of life. Advances in medical therapy, although signifiicant over the past decade, are still inadequate in regards to targeting the prime underlying pathology, the irreversible loss of damaged or dead cardiomyocytes. Research into the use of cell transplantation therapy to treat cardiac diseases, with the goal of improving cardiac function, shows promise. The aim of this review will be to discuss the potential therapeutic effects of myocardial stem cell and progenitor cell therapy delivered by an intracoronary route with special reference to treatment of infarcted myocardium.
