Autologous Stem Cells for Cardiac Angiogenesis (FOCUS HF)

This is a phase 1, single-blind trial to evaluate the use of autologous bone marrow mononuclear stem cells in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. The study hypothesis is that transendocardial injections of autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells in patients with end-stage ischemic heart disease is safe, can promote neovascularization, and can improve perfusion and myocardial contractility. The primary object of this study will be to evaluate the safety of autologous-bone-marrow mononuclear cell injections. The secondary endpoint of the study is to assess the efficacy of autologous bone marrow cells in improving cardiac contractile function and functional outcome. The efficacy will be assessed on the basis of the treadmill Max VO2 (maximum volume oxygen uptake). Secondarily the efficacy will be assessed on the basis of clinical status and imaging rests, with follow-up extending to 1 year after enrollment.A maximum of 30 patients will be enrolled in the study. At the end of the 6-month visit. after the required angiogram with mapping and non-invasive testing is complete, the patients will be told whether they were in the control or the active group (stem cell therapy). Those in the control group will be told before final invasive testing, and those who consent may cross over to the active therapy arm and undergo the cell injection procedure (control, then stem cell therapy. In these patients, the foll-up angiogram and mapping procedure will also serve as the baseline procedure required for cell injection. Bone marrow mononuclear cells will be injected in an identical fashion, according to the same criteria described for the original treatment group, and these patients will have identical follow-up visits starting again at the baseline time-point and extending for up to 1 year.