Autologous Bone-Marrow Stem Cells for MyocardialRegeneration

Overview

Remodelling of the left ventricle after myocardial infarction is a major cause of the heart failure development withpossible death. Despite application of pharmacological, catheter and surgical interventions and the use of newmechanical devices, the myocardium lost during myocardial infarction cannot be regenerated. Implantation ofbone-marrowst em cells into the heart might be a new method to restore myocardial viability. In animal experiments,attempts to replace fibrotic zone by transplanting stem cells have regularly succeeded in reconstituting myocardialstructure – cardiomyocytes and capillary vessels. Repair of myocardium using bone-marrowde rived multipotentstem cells was shown in experimental and in the first few clinical studies. Current status of our knowledge about theuse of stemcells in themyocardial regeneration is described in this article, as well as the cautions, which are necessaryduring early period of this mode of treatment in humans.

Key words:
acute myocardial infarction, left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, bone-marrowst em cells.