Exercise capacity, arrhythmic risk profile, and pulmonary function is not influenced by intracoronary injection of Bone Marrow Stem Cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction

ObjectivesTo evaluate influence of Bone Marrow Stem Cells (BMSC) intracoronary infusion on exercise capacity, pulmonary function, heart rate recovery and SAECG in patients with AMI of anterior wall, compared to control group – from baseline in the acute phase during 12 months follow up.MethodsForty five patients were randomized 2:1 to BMSC group (n = 31 pts) or to control group (n = 14 pts). BMSC were administered into infarct related artery (IRA) at 4–6 day after primary PCI. Patients were followed up with cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The QRS duration, QT and QTc interval were measured and signal averaged ECGs (SAECG) were performed to evaluate late potentials.ResultsThere were no significant differences between both groups neither at peak VO2 (190.7 ± 7.4 at baseline; 24.2 ± 5.2 at 6 months; 22.2 ± 7.4 ml/kg/min at 12 months vs 18.4 ± 8.2 at baseline; 22.0 ± 7.2 at 6 months; 21.8 ± 6.2 ml/kg/min at 12 months; BMSC vs control group respectively; p = ns), nor VO2 at anaerobic threshold, nor in VE/VCO2 slope, RER, and systolic blood pressure at peak exercise at baseline and any time point of follow-up. There were no significant differences between groups concerning HR peak, HRR1 and HRR2 at any time point and also QRS, QT parameters, and SAEKG. There were no significant differences between both groups at any time point (baseline, 6 and 12 months) concerning FVC, FEV1 and FVC/FEV1 and % of their normal values.ConclusionsWe did not find that BMSC therapy in patients with anterior wall myocardial infarction influences exercise capacity. We did not confirm it's potential proarrhythmogenic influence as assessed with SAECG and standard ECG analysis.