Safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy in acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events, infarct size and LV ejection fraction assessed by CMRI.

Abstract

Introduction: The current standard treatment for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is prompt reperfusion through primary percutaneous coronary intervention. However, myocardial infarction remains the leading cause of heart failure, contributing to prolonged hospital stay and a 30% rehospitalisation rate within 6 months. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential approach to repair myocardial damage.

Methods: This study is a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials available online. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed, and the study was conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Results: 21 articles from 15 trials (21 clinical trial interventions) with a total of 1218 participants were included. Stem cell therapy was associated with fewer adverse events than controls (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.99, p=0.05), supporting its short-term to mid-term safety. No cardiac-related cancer cases were reported in any group, but longer follow-up is needed to assess potential oncogenic risks. Efficacy analyses showed no significant effect on infarct size (absolute or relative) or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in short-term follow-up. In long-term follow-up, relative infarct size became statistically significant in favour of stem cell therapy only after exclusion of an outlier study (standardised mean difference -0.63, 95% CI -0.94 to -0.32, p<0.0001). Long-term LVEF improvement was also significant (mean difference 2.63%, 95% CI 0.50% to 4.76%, p=0.02), although substantial heterogeneity remained unexplained despite sensitivity analyses, including the removal of low-correlation studies.

Conclusion: Stem cell therapy for acute myocardial infarction demonstrates a favourable safety profile. While overall efficacy remains uncertain, long-term benefits may exist, particularly for relative infarct size and LVEF. However, interpretation is limited by study heterogeneity. Future trials with standardised protocols and longer follow-up are warranted.