Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Catheter-based Transendocardial Delivery of Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Cells in Patients With Heart Failure Due to Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Brief Summary: This study is designed to assess the safety profile and the efficacy of cardiac repair cells (CRCs) administered via catheter in treating patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients will be eligible if presenting all characteristics described below:

  * ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in two or more contiguous leads, and according to the WHO definition, at least one of the following two:

    i) Presence of chest pain. ii) Elevation of the myonecrosis markers.
  * Age between 30 and 80 years old.
  * Ejection fraction ≤50% on Echocardiogram (Simpson) and segmentary dysfunction of the infarction area, measured between the 3rd and 5th day post AMI.

Among patients submitted to thrombolytic therapy, the angioplasty of the related artery should be preferably done up to 24h after thrombolysis, with a maximum deadline of 72h after thrombolysis.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients will be ineligible if presenting any of the characteristics described below:

  * AMI related artery presenting TIMI \< 3 at the moment f cell injection.
  * Left Main Coronary Artery Lesion of \>50% or multivessel coronariopathy (\>70% lesion in vessels with \>2,0mm diameter in left anterior descending, circumflex and right coronary territory) indicating the need for CABG or angioplasty with three or more stents implant.
  * Coronary anatomy, after thrombolytic reperfusion, presenting no need for angioplasty with stent implant.
  * Final Diastolic Pression of the LV higher than 30 mmHg during ventriculography for evaluating EF inclusion criteria for the research protocol (item "c" of inclusion criteria).
  * Cardiac arrest or Killip IV AMI at admission with need of ventilatory support.
  * Cardiogenic shock persisting up to the third day after AMI (with need of Intra-aortic balloon pump or vasopressors).
  * AMI mechanical complications (ventricular septal defect, papillary muscle rupture, and left ventricular free wall rupture).
  * Significant valve disease, defined as aortic stenosis (mean systolic pressure gradient across the aortic valve \>50mmHg), mitral stenosis with a valvar area less than 1,5 cm,2 moderate to severe aortic and/or mitral regurgitation.
  * Chronic use of immunosuppressive agents.
  * \> 2,0 mg/dl creatinine or previous dialysis treatment.
  * Presence of fever on the past 48h before injection glaring active systemic infection according to ACCP/SCCM (American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine) sepsis definition.
  * Sustained ventricular tachycardia 48h after AMI.
  * Illicit drugs abuse or alcohol abuse (based on DSM IV).
  * Any co morbidity, with survival impact in two years.
  * Myocarditis
  * Active liver disease
  * COPD in continuous steroids use.
  * Hematological disease, neoplasm, bone disease or hemostatic disturbances.
  * Inflammatory disease or chronicle infectious disease.
  * Presence of definitive implantation of a cardiac pace maker or cardiac defibrillator.
  * Impossibility to reach a cells suspension of 100 million mononuclear cells due to cells paucity in the bone marrow aspirate.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of ischemic or non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy according to WHO criteria. Ischemic: 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. Non-ischemic: Dilation and impaired contraction of left ventricle or both ventricles of idiopathic, familial/genetic, viral and/or immune, toxic origin, or associated with recognized cardiovascular disease in which the degree of myocardial dysfunction is not explained by normal loading conditions or the extent of ischemic damage.
* No other cardiac surgery or percutaneous cardiac interventions likely to produce clinical improvement, as determined by an interventional cardiologist (for PTCA) and a cardiothoracic surgeon (for CABG). This condition is satisfied in patients w/chronic ischemic disease who have previously been successfully revascularized but have failed to show clinical improvement. All patients who are candidates for revascularization are ineligible for participation.
* LVEF \</= 30% by echocardiogram within 30 days prior to randomization.
* Symptomatic heart failure in NYHA class III or IV.
* Able to comply with scheduled visits in cardiac out-patient clinic.
* Able to tolerate study procedures, including bone marrow aspiration, cardiac CT, metabolic stress test,6 minute walk test.
* Males and females, 18-86 years of age.
* Life expectancy of 6 months or more in the opinion of the 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).
* 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.
* Stable, standard medical therapy for DCM for at least 1 month with NO new medications to treat the disease introduced in the last 3 months. Standard medical therapy includes: Placement of AICD unless contraindicated (refusal of AICD not considered valid contraindication), use of ACE inhibitors and/or AT-1 receptor blockers as well as loop diuretics unless contraindicated and, depending on the type of heart failure associated with the disease, standard therapy may also include use of vasodilators, beta blockers, digoxin, and aldosterone or other medications.
* Pre-existing conditions are adequately controlled in the opinion of the investigator.
* Fertile patients must agree to use an appropriate form of contraception while participating in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe primary valvular heart disease including, but not limited to, aortic valve stenosis and insufficiency.
* Known history of COPD defined as Gold stage IIB (FEV1/FVC\<70% with 30%\</=FEV1\<50% predicted, with or without chronic symptoms of cough, sputum production, dyspnea) or more severe or restrictive pulmonary disease.
* Known history of primary pulmonary hypertension.
* VAD implantation.
* Myocardial infarction within 4 weeks prior to randomization.
* History of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia, except if an AICD is implanted.
* Unstable angina, characterized by increasingly frequent episodes with modest exertion or at rest, worsening severity, and prolonged duration.
* Patients at high risk for complications due to injection procedure (e.g. patients who have severe peripheral atherosclerotic disease that does not allow advancement of the catheter; patients who have a prosthetic aortic or mitral valve; patients who have a LV thrombus or aneurysm; patients who have an aortic dissection or aneurysm, etc.).
* Patients w/poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (HbAlc\>9.0%).
* Patients receiving treatment with hematopoietic growth factors (e.g. EPO, G-CSF).
* Patients who require uninterruptible anticoagulation therapy (e.g. warfarin)that cannot be stopped for 72 hours prior to bone marrow aspiration and intramyocardial injections; OR patients receiving anti-platelet therapy (e.g. clopidogrel) that cannot be stopped for 7 days prior to bone marrow aspiration and transendocardial injections, unless contraindicated.
* Known cancer and undergoing treatment including chemotherapy and radiation.
* Patients requiring continuous, systemic, high dose corticosteroid therapy (more than 7.5 mg/day) within 1 month before aspiration or 6 months after injection procedure.
* 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 w/in 6 months of screening.
* Known allergies to protein products (horse or bovine serum, or porcine trypsin) used in the ex-vivo cell production process.
* BMI 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 the time of screening.
* Patient determined unsuitable for cellular therapy, in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor.
* Patients receiving anti-angiogenic drugs (e.g. anti-VEGF).
* Known allergy or sensitivity to contrast agents used in imaging procedures.
* Minimum LV wall thickness of less than 6mm as determined by ECHO.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy according to WHO criteria
* Syndromic heart failure in functional class III or IV of the NYHA
* Enrollment and continuous follow-up in cardiac out-patient clinic
* Adequate medical therapy after optimization therapy
* Echocardiogram with an ejection fraction equal to or less than 35% by Simpson's rule

Exclusion Criteria:

* Valvular diseases, except functional mitral or tricuspid reflow
* Coronariography showing a significant lesion (obstruction of at least 50% of the lumen in the troncus or the main arteries - LAD, CX, RC) in one or more arteries
* Serologic diagnosis for Chagas disease or at least two of the following criteria: epidemiology, right bundle branch block, anterior hemi-block, apical aneurism
* Sustained ventricular tachycardia
* Abusive use of alcohol or illicit drugs
* Pregnancy
* Use of cardio toxic drugs
* Any co-morbidity with impact in life expectancy in 2 years
* Renal function compromised (creatinine above 2 mg/dl)
D: Major Inclusion Criteria:

* Be ≥ 18 and \< 95 years of age.
* Provide written informed consent.
* Diagnosis of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
* Be a candidate for cardiac catheterization within 5 to 10 weeks of screening.
* Been treated with appropriate maximal medical therapy for heart failure.
* Ejection fraction below 40% and either a left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) \> 5.9cm in male subjects, an LVEDD of \> 5.6cm in female subjects or left ventricular end diastolic volume index \> 125 mL/m2
* Be able to undergo an MRI or CT.

Major Exclusion Criteria:

* Baseline glomerular filtration rate equal or \< 45 ml/min/1.73m2.
* Be eligible for or require standard-of-care surgical or percutaneous intervention for the treatment of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
* Presence of a prosthetic aortic valve or heart constrictive device.
* Presence of a prosthetic mitral valve.
* Previous myocardial infarction (MI) as documented by a clinical history that will include an elevation of cardiac enzymes and/or ECG changes consistent with MI.
* Diagnosis of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy due to valvular dysfunction, mitral regurgitation, tachycardia, or myocarditis.
* Previous treatment for post-infarction left ventricular dysfunction including PCI and thrombolytic therapy.
* Documented presence of a known LV thrombus, aortic dissection, or aortic aneurysm.
* Documented presence of epicardial stenosis of 70% or greater in one or more major epicardial coronary arteries.
* Documented presence of aortic stenosis (aortic stenosis graded as 1.5cm2 or less).
* Documented presence of moderate to severe aortic insufficiency (echocardiographic assessment of aortic insufficiency graded as ≥+2).
* Evidence of a life-threatening arrhythmia in the absence of a defibrillator (nonsustained ventricular tachycardia ≥ 20 consecutive beats or complete second or third degree heart block in the absence of a functioning pacemaker) or QTc interval \> 550 ms on screening ECG.
* AICD firing in the past 30 days prior to the procedure
* Be eligible for or require coronary artery revascularization.
* Diabetic with poorly controlled blood glucose levels and/or evidence of proliferative retinopathy.
* Have a hematologic abnormality as evidenced by hematocrit \< 25%, white blood cell \< 2,500/ul or platelet values \< 100,000/ul without another explanation.
* Have liver dysfunction, as evidenced by enzymes (ALT and AST) greater than three times the ULN.
* Have a coagulopathy condition = (INR \> 1.3) not due to a reversible cause.
* Known, serious radiographic contrast allergy.
* Known allergies to penicillin or streptomycin.
* Organ transplant recipient.
* Have a history of organ or cell transplant rejection
* Clinical history of malignancy within 5 years (i.e., patients with prior malignancy must be disease free for 5 years), except curatively-treated basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or cervical carcinoma.
* Non-cardiac condition that limits lifespan to \< 1 year.
* On chronic therapy with immunosuppressant medication.
* Serum positive for HIV, hepatitis BsAg, or viremic hepatitis C.
* Female patient who is pregnant, nursing, or of child-bearing potential and not using effective birth control.
* Have a history of drug or alcohol abuse within the past 24 months.
* Be currently participating (or participated within the previous 30 days) in an investigational therapeutic or device trial.

Answer: B