Original Article


Study of peripheral stem cells mobilization as a treatment line of pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy

Mohamed El-Shanshory, Waled El-Shehaby, Nahed Hables, Said Hamad, Mohamed Attia, Ayman El-Said

Abstract

Background: Mobilizing hematopoietic stem cells may be a promising intervention for the treatment of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) in infant and children. So the aim of the work is to evaluate the efficacy of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) as a therapeutic modality in pediatric IDCM.
Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 40 pediatric patients with IDCM. They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), creatinine phosphokinase isoenzyme B (CK-MB) isoenzyme, and peripheral blood CD34+ cell assessment before and at day 7 after subcutaneous G-CSF injection for 5 consecutive days. Echocardiography was done before and 1, 3 and 6 months after therapy.
Results: Clinical improvement in the form of regression of patients Modified Ross heart failure (MRHC) classification classes. Increased percentage of CD34+ mobilized cells from the bone marrow, and significant increase in blood counts especially white blood cells 7 days after G-CSF injection. Significant improvement was found in echocardiographic data evaluating systolic function of the heart [Ejection fraction, Fractional shortening and systolic velocity at mitral annulus (Sm)].
Conclusions: Administration of G-CSF may be beneficial in improving systolic functions of the heart in pediatric IDCM and more studies with a large number of patients are needed.

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