Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Intramyocardial Stem Cell Therapy in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Brief Summary: BACKGROUND. In patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, intracoronary stem cell transplantation has been shown to improve exercise capacity, reduce ventricular remodelling and improve 1-year survival. Pre-clinical data demonstrate that stem cell effects on the diseased heart can be further enhanced by direct intramyocardial delivery route.

AIMS.

1. To evaluate safety and efficacy of intramyocardial stem cell therapy in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
2. To directly compare clinical effects of intracoronary and intramyocardial stem cell delivery.

METHODS. Of 60 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, 30 will be randomized to intramyocardial transplantation of CD34+ cells (Study Group), and 30 will receive intracoronary stem cell therapy (Control Group). In both groups peripheral blood stem cells will be mobilised by daily subcutaneous injections of filgrastim; CD34+ cells will be collected via apheresis and labelled with technetium. In the Study Group electromechanical mapping will be used to identify viable myocardium and intramyocardial injections in the target areas will be performed with NOGA catheter. In the Control group patients will undergo myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and CD34+ cells will be injected intracoronary in the artery supplying segments of reduced viability. Patients will be followed for 1 year. Primary endpoints will include changes in left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular dimensions (measured by echocardiography). Secondary endpoints will include changes in exercise capacity and changes in NT-proBNP values.

HYPOTHESES.

1. At 1 year, intramyocardial stem cell therapy will be associated with improved left ventricular ejection fraction, reduced left ventricular dimensions, improved exercise capacity and reduced levels of NT-proBNP.
2. Beneficial effects of intramyocardial stem cell therapy will be superior to those observed with intracoronary stem cell delivery.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients presenting to the Heart Attack Centre with acute anterior myocardial infarction (ST elevation in at least 2 contiguous anterior leads ≥ 0.2 mV) and treated with acute PCI with stent implantation within 24 hours after symptom onset
* Acute PCI / stent implantation has been successful (residual stenosis visually \< 30% and TIMI flow ≥ 2).
* At the time of inclusion patient no longer requires i.v. catecholamines or mechanical hemodynamic support (aortic balloon pump)
* Significant regional wall motion abnormality in LV angiogram at the time of acute PCI in the LAD territory
* Age 18 - 80 Years (primary angioplasty confers an adverse prognosis in those over the age of 80 years)
* Written informed consent in the recruiting centres native language

Exclusion Criteria:

* Regional wall motion abnormality outside the area involved in the index acute myocardial infarction
* Need to revascularise additional vessels, outside the infarct artery as a planned procedure (these vessels can be treated at baseline)
* Arteriovenous malformations or aneurysms
* Active infection, or fever or diarrhoea within last 4 weeks
* Chronic inflammatory disease
* Known HIV infection or active hepatitis
* Neoplastic disease without documented remission within the past 5 years
* Cerebrovascular insult within 3 months
* Impaired renal function (creatinine \> 200mmol) at the time of cell therapy
* Significant liver disease (GOT \> 2x upper limit) or spontaneous INR \> 1,5)
* Anemia (hemoglobin \< 8.5 mg/dl)
* Platelet count \< 100.000/µl
* Hypersplenism
* Known allergy or intolerance to clopidogrel, heparin or abciximab
* History of bleeding disorder
* Gastrointestinal bleeding within 3 months
* Major surgical procedure or trauma within 2 months
* Uncontrolled hypertension
* Pregnancy
* Mental retardation leading to inability to obtain informed consent
* Previously performed stem / progenitor cell therapy
* Participation in another clinical trial within the last 30 days
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Established dg. of dilated CMP (defined according to ESC position statement - absence of any stenotic lesions on coronary angiography, no congenital heart disease, no primary valve disease on echocardiography, and no history of hypertension or alcohol abuse1)
* left ventricular ejection fraction \< 30%
* NYHA functional class III or IV for at least 3 months before referral
* Optimal medical management for at least 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Left ventricular aneurysm or thrombus
* Hematologic disease
* Multiorgan failure
* Active malignancy
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of ischemic or nonischemic DCM according to World Health Organization criteria; OR ischemic DCM (DCM in a patient with a history of myocardial infarction or evidence of clinically significant (\>/= 70% narrowing of a major epicardial artery) coronary artery disease)
* No other cardiac surgery or percutaneous cardiac interventions likely to produce clinical improvement, in the opinion of the investigator and the referring interventional cardiologist
* Left ventricular ejection fraction \</= 30% by echocardiogram
* Symptomatic heart failure in NYHA functional class III or IV
* Able to comply with scheduled visits in cardiac out-patient clinic
* Able to tolerate study procedures, including bone marrow aspiration, left lateral thoracotomy or thoracoscopy with single lung ventilation, MRI or cardiac CT, spirometry and 6 minute walk test
* Males and females, 18-86 years of age
* Life expectancy of 6 months or more in the opinion of investigator
* Able to give informed consent
* Normal organ and marrow function (Leukocytes \>/= 3,000/microgram, Absolute neutrophil count \>/= 1,500/microgram, Platelets \>/= 140,000/microgram, AST (SGOT)/ALT (SGPT) \</= 2.5 x institutional standards range) and Creatinine \</= 2.5 mg/dL)
* Adequate pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second \[FEV1\] \> 50% predicted)
* Controlled blood pressure (systolic blood pressure \</= 140; diastolic blood pressure \</= 90 mmHg) and established anti-hypertensive therapy as necessary prior to entry into the study
* Adequate medical management of DCM and other pre-existing conditions. Drug treatment regimen must have been established for at least a month prior to randomization in eligible patients.
* Fertile patients must agree to use an appropriate form of contraception while participating in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe primary valvular insufficiency(ies)
* Known history of Chronic Obtrusive Pulmonary Disease (Gold stages IIB or more severe only) or restrictive pulmonary disease
* Known history of primary pulmonary hypertension
* Ventricular Assist Device implantation
* Myocardial infarction within 4 weeks of randomization
* Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia, except if implantable cardioverter defibrillator is implanted
* Unstable angina, characterized by increasingly frequent episodes with modest exertion or at rest, worsening severity, and prolonged duration
* Patients receiving treatment with hematopoietic growth factors
* Patients who require uninterruptible anticoagulation or anti-platelet therapy \[i.e. anticoagulation therapy (e.g. warfarin) that cannot be stopped for 72 hours prior to bone marrow aspiration and intramyocardial injections\]
* Patients receiving anti-platelet therapy (e.g. clopidogrel) that cannot be stopped for 7 days prior to bone marrow aspiration and intramyocardial injections
* Known cancer and undergoing treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy
* Patients who will require continuous, systemic, high dose corticosteroid therapy (more than 7.5 mg/day) within 6 months after surgery
* End stage renal disease requiring dialysis
* Patients pregnant or lactating; positive for hCG
* History of alcohol consumption regularly exceeding the equivalent of 2 drinks/day (1 drink = 5 oz of wine or 12 oz \[360mL\] of beer or 1.5 oz \[45mL\] of hard liquor) or history of illicit drug use within 6 months of screening
* Known allergies to protein products (horse or bovine serum, or porcine trypsin)
* Body Mass Index of 40 Kg/m2 or greater
* Patients receiving experimental medications or participating in another clinical study within 30 days of screening
* HIV or syphilis, positive at time of screening
* Active Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C infection at time of screening
* In the opinion of the investigator, patient is unsuitable for cellular therapy
* Patients receiving anti-angiogenic drugs
D: Inclusion Criteria:

Eligible patients must meet all of the following inclusion criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18 and \< 80 years.
2. Systolic dysfunction with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% as assessed by echocardiography.
3. Ischemic heart failure without known need for revascularization.
4. Total MLHFQ score \> 30.
5. Ability to perform a 6 minute walk test \> 100 m and ≤ 400 m.
6. History of hospitalization for heart failure (HF) within 12 months prior to screening or treatment in an outpatient clinic with intravenous vasoactive therapy (including vasodilators, positive inotropic agents and vasopressors) or diuretics for worsening Heart Failure within 12 months prior to screening.
7. Be or must have been within the previous 12 months in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV or Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) class 4, 5, 6 or 7, and at the time of inclusion, must be at least in NYHA Class II or greater.
8. Use of ACE inhibitor and/or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB); and beta blocker, for at least 3 months prior to screening visit, unless intolerant or contraindicated.
9. Stable dosing of ACE inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker , beta blocker, aldosterone blocker,and diuretics for at least one month prior to screening visit, defined as ≤50% change in total dose of each agent.
10. Willing and able to give written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria (summarized):

Eligible patients must meet none of the following exclusion criteria:

1. Women who are pregnant, confirmed by a positive urine or serum human chorionic gonadotropin laboratory test at screening.
2. Women of child-bearing potential without a negative serum or urine pregnancy test at screening. Women who are postmenopausal (12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea or 6 months of spontaneous amenorrhea with serum FSH level \> 40 mIU/mL or 6 weeks post surgical bilateral oophorectomy) or surgically sterile are not considered to be of child-bearing potential. Reliable contraception includes surgical sterilization, hormonal contraception, or doublebarrier methods.
3. Men refusing to exercise a reliable form of contraception.
4. Myocardial infarction, unstable angina or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 90 days prior to screening, or coronary artery bypass graft surgery within 180 days prior to screening.
5. Patient on a cardiac transplant list or previously received any solid organ transplant.
6. Previously underwent cardiac surgery with remodeling procedure, left ventricular assist device placement or cardiomyoplasty. This exclusion does not apply to patients who underwent ventricularplasty without placement device more than one year ago.
7. Patient has undergone cardiac resynchronization therapy within 6 months prior to screening.
8. Severe uncontrolled HF requiring need for intensive intravenous diuretics or inotropic support within 1 month prior to screening.
9. Inability to perform a 6 minute walk test due to physical limitations other than HF including:

   1. Severe peripheral vascular disease
   2. Severe pulmonary disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease limiting exercise
   3. Orthopedic limitations, severe muscular diseases, any other joint or muscular disease or neurological disorder (such as an old stroke or neuropathy) limiting the ability to walk for 6 minutes.
10. Dependence on chronic oral steroid therapy.
11. Stroke or transient ischemic attack leading to limitations in lower extremities or occurring within 180 days prior to screening.
12. Active myocarditis, constrictive pericarditis, restrictive, hypertrophic or congenital cardiomyopathy.
13. BMI \< 19 or \> 45.
14. Left ventricular thrombus.
15. Left ventricular (LV) wall thickness \< 8mm visualized in more than 50% of LV, and defined as a "LV no-go zone".
16. LV aneurysm or candidate for surgical aneurysmectomy.
17. Sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation which led to automatic implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (AICD) therapy (shock) within 3 months prior to screening.
18. Primary significant organic valvular heart disease.
19. Moderate to severe aortic valve disease precluding catheter entry into the LV.
20. Mechanical prosthetic valve in aortic or mitral position.
21. Chronic infection or active malignancy.
22. Patient has compromised renal function as reflected by a serum creatinine level \>3.0 mg/dL (\>0.265 mmol/L) or is currently on dialysis.
23. Hematocrit \< 28%.
24. Atherosclerosis and/or tortuosity of the aorta, iliac or femoral arteries of a degree that could impede or preclude the safe retrograde passage of the delivery catheter.
25. Chronic immunosuppressive therapy due to inflammatory or systemic disease.
26. Patient tested positive for HIV 1 or 2, Hepatitis B or C, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV) 1 or 2 (if required by regulations) or syphilis.
27. Exposure to any previous experimental cell or angiogenic therapy and/or myocardial laser therapy and/or therapy with another investigational drug within 60 days prior to screening or enrollment in any concurrent study that may confound the results of this study.
28. Known drug or alcohol dependence or any other factors which will interfere with the study conduct or interpretation of the results or in the opinion of the investigator are not suitable to participate.
29. Any illness other than congestive heart failure which might reduce life expectancy to less than 2 years from screening.
30. Known and relevant allergies and/or hypersensitivities to Dextran or other plasma volume expanders to include Gentran, Hyskon and Macrodex.

Answer: B