Imaging and 1-day kinetics of intracoronary stem cell transplantation in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

BackgroundStem cell transplantation is an emerging method of treatment for patients with cardiovascular disease. There are few studies completed or ongoing on stem cell therapy in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM). Information on stem cell homing and distribution in the myocardium after transplantation might provide important insight into effectiveness of transplantation procedure.AimTo assess early engraftment, retention and migration of intracoronarily transplanted stem cells in the myocardium of patients with advanced dilated cardiomyopathy of non-ischaemic origin using stem cell labeling with 99mTc-exametazime (HMPAO).Materials, methodsThirty-five patients with IDCM and advanced heart failure were included in the study. Autologous hematopoietic (CD34 +) stem cells were harvested by peripheral blood apheresis after bone marrow stimulation, labeled with 99mTc-HMPAO, tested for viability and injected into coronary vessel supplying areas of myocardium selected by myocardial perfusion scintigraphy as dysfunctional yet viable. Imaging was performed 1 h and 18 h after transplantation.ResultsMyocardial stem cell retention ranged from 0 to 1.44% on early and 0–0.97% on delayed imaging. Significant efflux of stem cells occurred from site of delivery in this time period (p < 0.001). Stem cell viability was not affected by labeling.ConclusionStem cell labeling with 99mTc-HMPAO is a feasible method for stem cell tracking after transplantation in patients with IDCM.