Autologous Bone Marrow Cells for Treatment of Myocardial Infarction in Colombia.

Experimental studies in animals demonstrate the ability of the bone marrow stem cells to differentiate in cardiomyocytes, vascular endothelium cells and smooth muscle cells. There is evidence that these cells can regenerate infarcted myocardium and induce myogenesis and angiogenesis. Clinical studies in humans suggest the feasibility and safety of the utilization of the stem cells to recovery the ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We report the first experience in Colombia using autologous bone marrow cells for cardiomyoplasty in isquemic heart disease.

This report shows the two months follow-up of four patients, three with acute myocardial infarction of the anterior myocardial wall and one patient with severe chronic isquemic heart disease. Extensive myocardial damage demonstrated by absence of viability in scintigraphic images and ejection fraction less than 40%. The patients received an optimum postinfarction medical treatment, successful coronary percutaneous intervention (three patients) or direct intramyocardial injection (one patient) to transfer of autologous bone marrow cells mobilised with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor during five days.

Demographics and results

The exercise capacity improve importantly, evidenced by increase in contractility, the six minutes test, the treadmill exercise time and the functional capacity in METS. There were not changes in the myocardial perfusion at two months follow-up, there were not complications related to the cellular transplant or the utilization of the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. This is the first experience in Colombia with the bone marrow cells and selective intracoronary transplantation for myocardial regeneration and angiogenesis. We observed functional recovery of the left ventricle, improvement in the exercise capacity without adverse effects or complications related to the therapy.