Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a collective name for the group of idiopathic (of unknown origin) myocardial diseases, the basis of which are degenerative and sclerotic processes in heart muscular cells – cardiomyocytes. The term “cardiomyopathy” defines the primary lesion of the heart muscle that is not associated with inflammatory, neoplastic or ischemic origin. The main symptoms of cardiomyopathy are cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), progressive heart failure and arrhythmias. Cardiomyopathy always affects ventricular contractile function of the heart.

Causes of primary cardiomyopathies to date are not fully understood. The probable reasons include viral infections (caused by the Coxsackie virus, herpes simplex, influenza, etc.), damage of cardiomyocytes by the effect of toxins and allergens, endocrine and immune disregulation and genetic predisposition, which cause incorrect formation and functioning of the heart muscle fibers.
The basic amount (over 50%) of cardiomyopathy cases include dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy makes about 40% of cases and other cases are presented by nonspecidic cardiomyopathies.

In all types of cardiomyopathy the progression of heart failure occurs as well as the the development of arterial and pulmonary embolism, disturbances of cardiac conduction and severe arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmia, paroxysmal tachycardia), sudden infant death syndrome may develop.

Cardiomyopathy are supposed to be especially dangerous cardiac disease in children: about 40% of them die or require a heart transplant in two years after the onset of clinical symptoms. The incidence of cardiomyopathy in infants is almost 12-fold higher than in the other age groups. It is also known, that the form of dilated cardiomyopathy is more common in men.

The treatment of cardiomyopathies. The effective treatment of cardiomyopathies to date has not been developed, so all therapeutic measures are aimed at prevention of fatal complications of this disease. The decreased physical activity, limitation of the consumption of animal fats and salt, refuse from bad habits and elimination of the influence of harmful environmental factors are recommended for all patients with cardiomyopathies. These measures can reduce the burden on the myocardium and for some time inhibit the progression of heart failure.

The medications, used to reduce pulmonary and systemic venous congestion in patients with cardiomyopathies, implicate the appropriate use of diuretics. Cardiac glycosides are used for the improvement of the myocardial contractility. Prophylaxis of thromboembolic complications include the use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. For relief of arrhythmias the antiarrhythmic drugs are used.

In extremely severe cases, the surgical treatment of cardiomyopathy is carried out : septal myotomy (resection of the hypertrophied interventricular septum area) with a prosthetic mitral valve or heart transplantation.

Women, suffering from cardiomyopathy, should avoid pregnancy because of the high probability of maternal mortality.

The prognosis of cardiomyopathy has long been considered to be very bad and heart transplantation was considered to be the only way to cure the patient. However, in recent years the methods of treatment of cardiomyopathy with the use of stem cells have been introduced into clinical practice, mediating the development of the new direction – cell cardiomyoplasty.

It was shown that the introduction of stem cells into the bloodstream results in the replacement of the connective tissue that breaks the heart muscle and restoration of the myocardium. Due to the formation of new blood vessels from the stem cells (angiogenesis), the trophic processes in the myocardium are improved as well as its supply with oxygen and nutrients. After stem cell treatment the increase of the ejection fraction and normalization of the heart rhythm are noted in patients with cardiomyopathy. Patients present also the reduction of the symptoms of heart failure (edema, shortness of breath). Worldwide the hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells, derived from the bone marrow, umbilical cord and peripheral blood, adipose tissue and placenta are used with the purposes of cellular cardiomyoplasty.

Our clinic offers advanced treatment with the use of stem cell therapy to patients with cardiomyopathy, presenting a real opportunity to regain the lost health.

Clinical example. Patient F., 19 years old, was diagnosed with dilatated cardiomyopathy and stayed on the waiting list for the heart transplant. Because of the lack of donor hearts, he was transferred from the Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantation to the Institute of Cell Therapy for treatment. In his family history the death of his sister at the age of 11 from acute cardiovascular insufficiency was present. The main complaints of the patient were shortness of breath, occuring even at low physical activity, legs edema by the end of the day. Ejection fraction was 26%. The back wall of the left ventricle almost did not contract at all.

The patient received a transplantion of hematopoietic stem cells. After 3 months, the ejection fraction increased to 44% and contractions of the back wall of the left ventricle appeared. The patient feels well and easily tolerates regular exercises. After 6 months, the patient is in stable condition, ejection fraction makes 44%, he is under the supervision of a cardiologist.
In addition to the positive dynamics of cardiac patients, suffering from cardiomyopathy, the treatment with the use of stem cells also regenerates liver, lungs and kidneys. You will experience the normalization of body weight, decrease of edema and pain, better sleep, decrease of nervousness and irritability, normalization of blood pressure. The treatment of cardiomyopathy with the use of stem cells is a natural process of recovery of the heart tissue. Therefore, if you or your loved ones suffer from this complex disease, our clinic is waiting for you. Before the visit, you can ask any question, filling in the form.

Today the Institute of Cell Therapy in conjunction with the National Institute of Cardio-Vascular Surgery n.a.
Amosov of NAMN of Ukraine and the Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Medicine of NAMN of Ukraine conducts clinical trial “Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Application of Bone Marrow and Placental Stem Cells as well as Their Combination in the Treatment of Patients with the Ischemic Cardiomyopathy”.