Cell Therapy Augments Myocardial Perfusion and Improves Quality of Life in Patients With Refractory Angina.

Refractory angina pectoris is a chronic disabling condition affecting ≈850 000 patients in the United States. It is characterized by frequent angina attacks unresponsive to maximal medical therapy and obstructive coronary artery disease not amenable to coronary revascularization. Although major progress has been made in medical therapy and cardiovascular interventions, up to 43% of patients continue to experience symptoms and 33% have positive exercise tests after angioplasty. It is now well recognized that these patients have concomitant microvascular disease, with reduced coronary and systemic flow reserve at a microvascular level and impaired endothelium-mediated vasorelaxation, that is, endothelial dysfunction. Currently, the treatment of these patients remains a major clinical challenge.