Title

Safety and Efficacy Study of Stem Cell Transplantation to Treat Dilated Cardiomyopathy
The Effects of Autologous Intracoronary Stem Cell Transplantation In Patients With End-Stage Dilated Cardiomyopathy
  • Phase

    Phase 2
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Study Participants

    110
Several studies have documented that transplantation of bone marrow-derived cells (BMC) following acute myocardial infarction is associated with a reduction in infarct scar size and improvements in left ventricular function and perfusion. The available evidence in humans suggests that BMC transplantation is associated with improvements in physiologic and anatomic parameters in both acute myocardial infarction and chronic ischemic heart disease, above and beyond the conventional therapy. In particular, intracoronary application of BMC is proved to be safe and was associated with significant improvement in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with chronic heart failure.

In contrast to ischemic heart failure, the data on effects of BMC transplantation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are limited to pre-clinical studies. In a rat model of dilated cardiomyopathy, intramyocardial delivery of pluripotent mesenchymal cells improved LVEF, possibly through induction of myogenesis and angiogenesis, as well as by inhibition of myocardial fibrosis, suggesting that the beneficial effects of stem cell transplantation in dilated cardiomyopathy may primarily be related to their ability to supply large amounts of angiogenic, antiapoptotic, and mitogenic factors. Similarly, transplantation of cocultured mesenchymal stem cells and skeletal myoblasts was shown to improve LVEF in a murine model of Chagas disease.

Study Aim:

To define the clinical effects of BMC transplantation in dilated cardiomyopathy in a pilot clinical study investigating the effects of intracoronary CD34+ cell transplantation on functional, structural, neurohormonal, and electrophysiologic parameters in patients with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.
Patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive intracoronary transplantation of autologous CD34+ stem cells (SC group) or no intracoronary infusion (control group). At the time of enrollment, and at yearly intervals thereafter, we performed detailed clinical evaluation, echocardiography, 6-minute walk test, and measured plasma levels of NT-proBNP. To better-define the potential role of inflammatory response, we also measured plasma inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α and interleukin [IL]-6) at the time of CD34+ stem cell injection.
Study Started
May 31
2006
Primary Completion
Apr 30
2013
Study Completion
Apr 30
2013
Results Posted
May 12
2015
Estimate
Last Update
May 12
2015
Estimate

Biological CD34+ autologous stem cell transplantation

Peripheral blood stem cells will be mobilized by daily subcutaneous injections of filgrastim; CD34+ cells will be collected via apheresis and labeled with technetium. Patients will undergo myocardial perfusion scintigraphy for myocardial viability assessment and the collected CD34+ cells will be injected intracoronary in the artery supplying the segments of reduced tracer accumulation

Drug Bone Marrow Stimulation

Patients will undergo filgrastim stimulation and viability assessment using the same protocol as in Arm 1. However, in this group, no intracoronary stem cell delivery will be performed; the patients will receive placebo (saline).

  • Other names: G-CSF stimulation

Biological SC therapy

In the SC group, CD34+ cells were mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and collected via apheresis. Patients underwent myocardial scintigraphy and cells were injected in the artery supplying segments with the greatest perfusion defect

SC Group Experimental

SC therapy,'Bone Marrow Stimulation','CD34+ autologous stem cell transplantation': In the SC group, CD34+ cells were mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and collected via apheresis. Patients underwent myocardial scintigraphy and cells were injected in the artery supplying segments with the greatest perfusion defect

Controls No Intervention

Patients receiving no cell therapy.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Normal coronary angiogram
Left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%
NYHA III or IV heart failure symptoms
Bone marrow reactivity (G-CSF test)
Presence of viable myocardium

Exclusion Criteria:

Hematologic malignancy
Multiorgan failure

Summary

SC Group

Control Group

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term SC Group Control Group

Heart Failure Mortality

SC Group

8.0
participants

Control Group

19.0
participants

Changes in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Left ventricular ejection fraction measured by echocardiography

SC Group

5 years

30.0
Percentage of ejection (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 5.1

Baseline

24.3
Percentage of ejection (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 6.5

Control Group

5 years

23.3
Percentage of ejection (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 4.2

Baseline

25.7
Percentage of ejection (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 4.1

Changes in Exercise Capacity

Outcome Measure Data Not Reported

Changes in Electrophysiologic Properties of Ventricular Myocardium

Outcome Measure Data Not Reported

Changes in Plasma Inflammatory Markers

Outcome Measure Data Not Reported

Changes in Left Ventricular Function

Outcome Measure Data Not Reported

Total

110
Participants

Age, Continuous

54
years (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 9

Age, Categorical

Region of Enrollment

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

SC Group

Control Group