MYSTAR-5-YEAR: Long-term Follow-up of Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease Treated With Cell Therapy

Background: Based on the available long-term results of cardiac stem cell therapies, it seems, that it offers short-term moderate benefits, but the long-term outcome is still matter of debate. In 2008, the Austrian arm of the MYSTAR study (a prospective multi-center single-blind trial) including patients with recent AMI and treated with combined (intramyocardial and intracoronary) delivery of autologous BM-MNCs has been completed with 1-year FUP. The MYSTAR results showed moderate but significant improvement in infarct size and LV function similar to other trials, and confirmed safety, feasibility and efficacy of BMC treatment in AMI patients. The patients enrolled in the study reach the 5 to 8 years FUP at 2011, raising the question whether the combined delivery of autologous BM-MNCs results in a long-term benefit for these patients.

Aim of the study: To investigate the long-term, 5 years clinical outcome of patients enrolled into the MYSTAR study.

Study design: Prospective non-randomized single-center Austrian long-term FUP registry.

Study patients: A total of 60 patients with previous cardiac stem cell therapy (participated in the MYSTAR study) will be included in the present study

Primary endpoint: occurrence of MACCE (major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, including all-cause death, re-AMI, revascularization and stroke) during the mean 5 years follow-up.

Secondary endpoints: improvements of clinical symptoms, expressed as CCS and NYHA scores, change in global LV EF, measured by echocardiography, size of infarction determined by stress-rest SPECT, LV and RV volumes, function and cardiac output measured by cardiac MRI.

Inclusion criteria

• Previous participation in the MYSTAR study, inclusion either in the Early or Late groups
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Non-willingness of participation in the present FUP study