CD133+ autologous bone marrow stem cell(Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG)

In spite of the fact that the post-myocardial infarction survival rate has improved with recent medical advances, reduced heart function attributed to irreversible loss of viable cardiomyocytes is still a major clinical problem.
The aim of the current study is to determine whether intramyocardial injection of autologous CD133+ bone marrow stem cells yields a functional benefit in addition to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with chronic ischemic coronary artery disease.

Cell transplantation for treatment of heart failure is a novel field of translational research that offers the perspective of developing curative approaches by regenerating or "rejuvenating" lost and/or diseased myocardium and inducing growth of new blood vessels. Based on the safety and preliminary efficacy testing in previous trials, a stringent efficacy testing will be performed in this study. Sixty patients who had myocardial infarction in the past and now need bypass surgery for ongoing coronary artery disease will undergo either bypass surgery and placebo treatment or bypass surgery and injection of CD133 bone marrow cells directly in the heart muscle. The study will be fully blinded, i.e. neither the patient nor the surgeon knows what substance is injected (placebo or cell product). Patients will be followed for 6 months and various heart function measurements will be performed.