Autologous CD34+ stem cell therapy (University Medical Centre Ljubljana)

Autologous CD34+ stem cell therapy is a cell-based biologic treatment developed by researchers at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana for the treatment of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. The therapy involves the mobilization of a patient's own CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), such as filgrastim. Following mobilization, the cells are collected via apheresis and then delivered to the patient's heart either through intracoronary injection or transendocardial transplantation into myocardial regions with reduced viability or perfusion defects. The therapeutic mechanism is primarily attributed to neovascularization and myocardial repair, facilitated by the direct incorporation of CD34+ cells into the developing vasculature and the paracrine secretion of angiogenic, anti-apoptotic, and mitogenic cytokines. Clinical trials have demonstrated that this therapy can improve left ventricular ejection fraction, exercise tolerance, and overall survival in patients with end-stage heart failure.

Other names

SC therapyAutologous CD34+ stem cell transplantationCD34+ autologous stem cell transplantationIntracoronary CD34+ cell transplantationTransendocardial CD34+ cell transplantation