Researchers at Allegheny General Hospital are studying a way to treat heart attack patients with an infusion of adult bone marrow stem cells, hospital officials said Thursday.
Stem cell therapy to heal scarred heart tissue has been tested before, but this treatment is given through an intravenous line placed in the arm or hand instead of an injection into the heart muscle, said Dr. Robert Biederman, director of AGH's Cardiovascular MRI Center and the hospital's principal investigator in the study.
"This stem cell approach affords a beautiful opportunity to do it non-invasively," Biederman said.
Allegheny General is one of 38 medical centers in the United States enrolling patients, who must have had only one heart attack within seven days of getting the treatment. Biederman said between 12 and 15 patients will be enrolled locally.
The first was Kathleen Caliendo of Scott. Caliendo, 53, underwent the stem cell infusion about two weeks ago, a couple of days after suffering a heart attack.
Caliendo initially thought she had a chest cold when she woke up with pressure on her chest and shoulder pain. During her 10-day hospital stay, study coordinator Joe Carothers talked to her about the stem cell treatment, which uses a product called Prochymal made by Osiris Therapeutics in Maryland.
"I knew I was going to go for it as soon as he started talking about it," said Caliendo, executive director of South Park Theater. "I think the potential for this research is incredible."
The infusion took about 40 minutes. Although it is possible she received a placebo, Caliendo believes she received the stem cells because she feels much better. Doctors said her heart function improved.
The phase II trial follows a successful phase I, also under the direction of Dr. Jerome Granato, that showed patients treated with stem cells had lower rates of adverse events and substantially improved outcomes, Biederman said. If approved, patients could receive treatments at community hospitals and not just at advanced care hospitals such as AGH, he said.
People interested in the study should call Biederman at 412-359-8705, or Carothers at 412-359-4159.
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