Today in Medicine: Study Examines Use of CD34+ Stem Cells in Advanced CAD Patients

July 3, 2007 By Caitlin J. Harrigan [mailto:charrigan@perfuse.org]

Chicago, IL, USA: A randomized trial looking at the effects of intramyocardial transplantation of autogolous CD34+ cells shows promise in the reduction of intractable angina. Patients with a history of CAD and recurrent angina who are not candidates for revascularization were treated with stem cells to induce neovascularization and therefore enhance perfusion and function.

In the last issue of Circulation,, Losordo and colleagues from the Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute report the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase I/IIa trial in 24 patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society class 3 or 4 angina who received intramyocardial transplantation of autologous CD34+ stem cells for the reduction of angina. At baseline, the placebo group was experiencing 20.5±11.5 angina episodes per week, while the treatment group was experiencing 21.2±16.1 episodes. At 3 months, the treatment group experienced a reduction in angina episodes, as compared to the placebo group (9.6±13.3 episodes in the treatment group vs. 27.0±23.8 episodes in the placebo group). By six months, the frequency of angina episodes was reduced in both the placebo group and the treatment group (16.0±19.3 vs. 8.6±10.93; respectively). At both time points, the reduction in episodes of angina was greater in the CD34+ group than in the placebo group (baseline to 3 months: placebo, 6.5±1.2; CD34+, -11.6±19.5; baseline to 6 months: placebo, -4.5±20.1; CD34+ -12.6±18.2).

This preliminary study suggests that the intramyocardial transplantation of CD34+ stem cells may reduce symptoms in patients with advanced coronary artery disease. A larger phase IIb study is currently under way to further evaluate this treatment.


 * 1) ref1 pmid=17562958 Circulation. 2007 Jun 26;115(25):3165-72. Epub 2007 Jun 11.