Cells From Bone Marrow Improve Heart Health

Boston (HealthKnowItAll) - Putting bone marrow cells directly into an ailing heart has been shown in a study to greatly enhance heart health.

Chronic myocardial ischemia, is the name of a condition in which blood flow to certain parts of the heart is lacking, thus the heart is weaker than it should be.

According to researchers from the Netherlands, placing bone marrow cells inside a weak heart can reduce incidents of serious heart incidents such as angina, and can make a heart stronger.

They came to this conclusion upon studying 50 heart patients, all male, and none responding to traditional heart therapies.

Each heart patient underwent a procedure in which they were randomily assigned to receive bone marrow cells or a placebo treatment.

Those who received marrow cells, had far better heart function after 3 months than those who received placebo therapy.

The researchers hope that this new therapy can become a leading weapon for doctors to use when treating patients with chronic myocardial ischemia.

The study can be found in the May 20 edition of The Journal of the American Medical Association.