Objective: Stem cells transplantation is a promising strategy in cardiology. This meta-analysis summarizes the efficacy and safety of stem cells transplantation on top of standard medication on chronic heart failure patients.
Methods: The following databases were searched, including Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2011), PubMed (1980 to 2011), Embase (1990 to 2011), CBM (1978 to 2011), CNKI (1994 to 2011), VIP (1989 to 2011), and WanFang Data (1998 to 2011). Search criteria:studies were screened and the quality was evaluated according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Intervention measures: the treatment group using stem cell transplantation therapy on top of standard drug treatment, while the control group using standard drug treatments.
Results: A total of 31 studies involving 2375 patients were included. The results show that the improvement of LVEDV in the stem cell treatment group is greater than in the control group [SMD = -11.8% (95%CI: -0.223 - 0.013), P = 0.027] and the relative-risk of cardiac events is lower in stem cell treatment group [RR = 0.77 (95%CI: 0.66 - 0.90), P < 0.01] than in control group.
Conclusion: Stem cells therapy is effective in improving cardiac remodeling and reducing the relative-risk of cardiac events in patients with chronic heart failure.