Stem cells used to repair damaged hearts

A STUDY of heart failure patients treated with their own stem cells has achieved “striking” results, it was reported yesterday.

In the trial, cardiac stem cells were used to repair the severely damaged hearts of 16 patients. It was the first time this had ever been done in humans.

After one year the ejection fraction or “pumping efficiency” of the hearts of eight patients had improved by more than 12%. All patients whose progress was followed underwent some level of recovery.