Texas Heart Institute uses patient's own stem cells to repair heart damage

John Hartman and his family traveled 1,000 miles to the Stem Cell Center at the Texas Heart Institute looking for a miracle. John's heart had been badly damaged by a heart attack, causing severe damage to his heart muscle. He would undergo a procedure in which his own stem cells would be implanted into his heart muscle.

Texas Heart Institute is the first medical facility in the world to test stem cells to replace damaged heart tissue. And John is among just 100 patients – many of whom were essentially waiting to die – who have been treated with their own stem cells over the past nine years. Using a 3D map, Dr. Emerson C. Perin, cardiologist at the Texas Heart Institute, made 15 injections of stem cells into John's heart. Each injection contained millions of the patient's own stem cells. As Dr. Jim Willerson, President of the Texas Heart Institute, says, "We think the improvement we see is largely from the blood flow increase salvaging the cells that are reversibly injured, allowing them to function normally." And adds Dr. Perin, "That reflects in the patient being able to do better, walk further, breathe better."

Through numerous studies at the Stem Cell Center, researchers are realizing the potential benefit of implanting stem cells into the heart. For patients like John who have no other options, stem cell therapy is offering hope. As Dr. Perin notes, “Our primary goal is to focus on patients and to try to benefit patients with severe heart disease through stem cell therapy. As the heart gets weaker, and there are not enough options to treat the patient, we may consider using stem cell therapy. Hopefully, in the future, we can apply stem cell therapy even early on to prevent the onset of heart failure. Our efforts are directed towards performing clinical trials, and through these trials, treating patients with cells that we think have great potential.”

The Stem Cell Center at the Texas Heart Institute is now conducting five simultaneous studies. One promising line of research uses stem cells known as mesenchymal precursor cells (MCPs). These cells have shown special potential in repairing tissues damaged by a heart attack. In addition, they don't trigger the auto-immune response, so that the Center can use MPCs from third-party donors without fear of rejection by its patients.

News Release: Houston researchers use patient stem cells to repair damage following a heart attack http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/health&id=6909755 July 10, 2009