OBJECTIVEWe aimed to perform a meta-analysis of clinical trials on the efficacy of autologous bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) transfer for patients with chronic ischemic heart disease.

METHODSWe searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane database through September 2009. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials of autologous BMCs infusion in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease. We gathered information about left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and death, and did a random-effect meta-analysis to obtain summary effect estimates for outcomes. The pooled analyses were performed and forest plots were generated with RevMan 5.0 software. Heterogeneity was assessed by meta-regression with STATA 10.0 software. Additionally, subgroup analysis was performed to compare the effect of intracoronary BMCs transfer with intramyocardial cell injection on LVEF.

RESULTSEleven trials with 490 participants were identified. There were 268 patients in BMCs group, and 222 in control group. In control group, the patients received saline injection or autologous plasma injection or no injection. BMCs transfer was performed via intracoronary transfer or intramyocardial injection. Compared with controls, BMCs transfer significantly improved LVEF by 4.63% (95%CI 2.42 to 6.84; P < 0.01). BMCs transfer was also associated with significant reductions in LVEDV (standardized mean difference -0.55, 95%CI -0.94 to -0.17, P = 0.005) and LVESV (standardized mean difference -0.45, 95%CI -0.73 to -0.17, P = 0.002). In addition, BMCs treatment was associated with a significant effect on death (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.18 to 1.01, P = 0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated that intramyocardial cell injection was preferred due to its more significant improvement of LVEF than intracoronary cell therapy. Meta-regression suggested the existence of a negative association between baseline LVEF and LVEF change.

CONCLUSIONBMCs infusion is associated with a significant improvement in LVEF, and an attenuation of left ventricular remodeling.