Stem cell therapy for the treatment of heart failure

Purpose of review Congestive heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome resulting from myocardial dysfunction that, impairs the cardiovascular system's function. Medical and surgical therapy both still result in a large number of patients with very few options and persistent ventricular dysfunction. The major process to reverse ventricular remodeling would be well as the stimulation of neovascularization within the affected area of the myocardium. This can be,achieved by roducing progenitor cells that bare, capable of, ferentiating into cardiac myocytes, or that promote myocardium environment. A number of issues remain as to the type of cells, delivery, timing, and mechanisms involved, however. Recent findings There have been a number of clinical trials in patients with heart failure that have been based on animal data related to stem cell therapy. Most have utilized*whole bone marrow cells or myoblasts. The majority of the studies demonstrate an improvement in ventricular function, reduction in scarring, and improvement in symptoms. Some trials have shown no improvement at all. Summary This review examines the bench-to-bedside developments of stem cell therapy related to congestive heart failure.