OBJECTIVESTo investigate the efficacy of intracoronary transfer of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (ABMMNCs) to patients with myocardial infarction (MI) on left ventricular function and myocardial perfusion.

METHODSThirty-five patients with MI (> 4 weeks) were enrolled in this prospective, open-labeled study (20 patients in cell transplantation group; 15 patients in control group). All patients were treated by standard drug therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Baseline and 3 months follow-up evaluations included complete clinical and laboratory examinations, six minutes walk test, echocardiography, Dual-isotope simultaneous acquisition single photon emission computed tomography (DISA-SPECT) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

RESULTSBaseline parameters were similar between the two groups. NYHA classification and six minutes walk test at 3 months follow-up were also similar between the two groups. However, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) determined by echocardiography and DISA-SPECT was significantly higher; regional wall motion measured by echocardiography and cardiac MRI, myocardial viability and myocardial perfusion in the infarct zone assessed by DISA-SPECT were all significantly improved than before transplantation and than that in control group at 3 months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSOur results indicate that intracoronary transplantation of ABMMNCs could improve the left ventricular systolic function and beneficially affect myocardial perfusion up to 3 months post transplantation in patients with myocardial infarction.