2018 Volume 28 Issue 1 Pages 93-102
Background: Translational research was launched to test the hypothesis that autologous skeletal muscle-derived cell-sheets transplantation may be feasible, safe and effective for treating severe congestive heart failure.
Methods: Fist study enrolled 4 DCM patients with LVAD and in Second study 7 DCM patients and 7 ICM of NYHA functional class III, who were already treated by maximum medical and/or interventional therapies. Scaffold-free cell-sheets containing 3-9×108 autologous muscle-derived cells were transplanted over the LV free wall via the left thoracotomy without additional interventional treatments.
Results: In the First Study, 2 of 4 patients showed functional recovery and succeeded in bridge to recovery from LVAD. In second study, all patients were discharged from the hospital without mortalities over the follow-up. All patients insisted marked symptomatic improvement post-treatment evaluated by SAS with much decrease of Pulmonary artery pressure and Pulmonary vein resistance. Multi-slice CT scanning revealed that in ICM patients whose LVESVI was between 100 and 130 showed LV reverse remodeling 6 months after sheet implantation compared with pre-value and End systolic share stress （ESS） was decreased in the cell sheet received patients. Survival rate was better after cell sheet implantation compared with estimated value calculated by the Seattle heart failure model.
Conclusions: In this translational research, cell-sheet transplantation was safe and effective with improvement of symptom and survival curve. Thus, it might be a promising regenerative therapy for severe congestive heart failure while further investigation and long term follow-up are needed.
