Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of intracoronary injection of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell to the very old patients with coronary chronic total occlusion. 15 consecutive patients received mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord in epicardial coronary artery supplying collateral circulation. The patients were randomly allocated to low-dose 3x10⁶, mid-dose 4x10⁶ and high-dose 5x10⁶ groups. ^99mTc single photon emission computed tomography images were obtained at 12 and 24 months. During the 24 month study period, no cases of major cardiac adverse events were reported. None of the patients had coronary care unit admissionshospitalizationsfurther coronary revascularizationacute myocardial infarction and death. The patients had a significant reduction of the infarct size and a remarkable rise in left ventricular ejection fraction with respect to secondary outcomes. This study suggested that stem cell transplantation was safe and feasible. The cells can be utilized to improve in the degree of ischemic myocardium, decrease in the infarct size and rise in left ventricular ejection fraction.

Keywords: Chronic myocardial ischemia, elderly, human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, therapy.