Effects of Transendocardial Delivery of Bone Marrow-Derived CD133+ Cells on Left Ventricle Perfusion and Function in Patients With Refractory Angina: Final Results of Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled REGENT-VSEL Trial.

RATIONALE: New therapies for refractory angina are needed. OBJECTIVE: Assessment of transendocardial delivery of bone marrow CD133+ cells in patients with refractory angina. METHODS AND RESULTS: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 31 patients with recurrent Canadian Cardiovascular Society II-IV angina, despite optimal medical therapy, ≥1 myocardial segment with inducible ischemia in Tc-99m SPECT who underwent bone marrow biopsy and were allocated to cells (n=16) or placebo (n=15). Primary end point was absolute change in myocardial ischemia by SPECT. Secondary end points were left ventricular function and volumes by magnetic resonance imaging and angina severity. After 4 months, there were no significant differences in extent of inducible ischemia between groups (summed difference score mean [±SD]: 2.60 [2.6] versus 3.63 [3.6], P=0.52; total perfusion deficit: 3.60 [3.6] versus 5.01 [4.3], P=0.32; absolute changes of summed difference score: -1.38 [5.2] versus -0.73 [1.9], P=0.65; and total perfusion deficit: -1.33 [3.3] versus -2.19 [6.6], P=0.65). There was a significant reduction of left ventricular volumes (end-systolic volume: -4.3 [11.3] versus 7.4 [11.8], P=0.02; end-diastolic volume: -9.1 [14.9] versus 7.4 [15.8], P=0.02) and no significant change of left ventricular ejection fraction in the cell group. There was no difference in number of patients showing improvement of ≥1 Canadian Cardiovascular Society class after 1 (41.7% versus 58.3%; P=0.68), 4 (50% versus 33.3%; P=0.63), 6 (70% versus 50.0%; P=0.42), and 12 months (55.6% versus 81.8%; P=0.33) and use of nitrates after 12 months. CONCLUSION: Transendocardial CD133+ cell therapy was safe. Study was underpowered to conclusively validate the efficacy, but it did not show a significant reduction of myocardial ischemia and angina versus placebo. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01660581.

Mobilization of CD34+CXCR4+ stem/progenitor cells and the parameters of left ventricular function and remodeling in 1-year follow-up of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Mobilization of stem cells in acute MI might signify the reparatory response. Aim of the Study. Prospective evaluation of correlation between CD34+CXCR4+ cell mobilization and improvement of LVEF and remodeling in patients with acute MI in 1-year followup. Methods. 50 patients with MI, 28 with stable angina (SAP), and 20 individuals with no CAD (CTRL). CD34+CXCR4+ cells, SDF-1, G-CSF, troponin I (TnI) and NT-proBNP were measured on admission and 1 year after MI. Echocardiography and ergospirometry were carried out after 1 year. Results. Number of CD34+CXCR4+ cells in acute MI was significantly higher in comparison with SAP and CTRL, but lower in patients with decreased LVEF ≤40%. In patients who had significant LVEF increase ≥5% in 1 year FU the number of cells in acute MI was significantly higher versus patients with no LVEF improvement. Number of cells was positively correlated (r = 0,41, P = 0,031) with absolute LVEF change and inversely with absolute change of ESD and EDD in 1-year FU. Mobilization of CD34+CXCR4+ cells in acute MI was negatively correlated with maximum TnI and NT-proBNP levels. Conclusion. Mobilization of CD34+CXCR4+ cells in acute MI shows significant positive correlation with improvement of LVEF after 1 year.

Outcomes of biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting PROLIM stent in patients with coronary artery disease. Results of 12-month follow-up of prospective registry.

BACKGROUND: Data from clinical trials suggested that biodegradable-polymer-based drug-eluting stents (DES) might improve long-term clinical outcomes. PROLIM (Balton, Warsaw, Poland) DES is based on a stainless steel platform with a closed cell design releasing sirolimus from biodegradable copolymer (lactic and glycolic acid) in eight weeks. AIM: In the present study the safety and the efficacy of a PROLIM stent was assessed in patients with de novo coronary lesions in 12-month clinical follow-up. METHODS: It was a single-centre, observational, prospective registry to assess the safety and efficacy of a PROLIM stent implantation in all consecutive patients with de novo coronary artery lesions treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The primary study endpoint was a composite safety (cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction), and the second study endpoint was the efficacy of PROLIM implantation-clinically driven target vessel revascularisation (TVR) assessed at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: One hundred patients were enrolled into the study and 118 PROLIM stents were implanted. Thirty-two (32%) patients had diabetes, 46 (46%) patients were prior PCI, and 17 (17%) patients had coronary artery bypass grafting. 67% of stented lesions were complex ones (B2/C) and 17% were bifurcations. During the 12-month follow-up primary study endpoints occurred in five (5%) patients. Two (2%) cardiac deaths were reported and three (3%) TVRs were performed, of which one was related to in-PROLIM stent restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: PCI with biodegradable-polymer PROLIM DES seems to be safe and effective in 12-month follow-up. A larger trial is warranted to assess clinical outcomes post PROLIM stent implantation.