Heart study

Study: Stem Cells Used To Fix Your Broken Heart
It's Called The Marvel Study
The Largest Clinical Trial Investigating Adult Stem Cells To Treat Congestive Heart Failure
For More Info, Call Jim Moran Heart & Vascular Center At (954) 229-8400
(CBS4)

Doctors are discovering a new way to fix your broken heart. A study is underway in South Florida that could revolutionize the way heart attack patients help their damaged hearts by using their own stem cells.

It's called The Marvel Study and under the direction of Dr. Alan Neiderman with the Jim Moran Heart & Vascular Research Institute at Holy Cross Hospital, is the largest clinical trial investigating adult stem cells to treat congestive heart failure. It involves 330 patients in up to 30 investigational sites in the US and Europe.

"I have a weak heart," said 74-year-old Dennis Piaso who had a heart attack ten years ago and is still suffering from the results, "Lately, I've had a lot of trouble breathing and I constantly lose my breath."

This new procedure could offer Piaso some hope.

Dr. Ahmed Osman, Piaso's doctor at Holy Cross hospital says Piaso will be one of the first in South Florida to be part of a new study using the patient's own stem cells.

"What we do is we would inject these myoblasts or stem cells into the areas that are scarred hoping that this will, these cells will multiply increasing the number and basically help the heart contract more efficiently," said Dr. Osman.

The stem cells are taken from the thigh muscle and injected into the heart so the heart can function better and ultimately become stronger.
Dr. Osman hopes to see improvement in overall heart function within a few weeks to months.

Dr. Alan Niederman, Director of Clinical Research says the preliminary study revealed those hearts injected with the cells showed significant improvement in heart function.

"This is what's known as the pivotal study, if this study is positive they
will go to the FDA to approve this technique as a broad technique that everybody can participate in," said Dr. Neiderman.

"Well for me it's a wonderful opportunity for me to get better and especially it's like getting added years to your life so what more can you want?" said Piaso, who feels like this study is giving him another chance at life.

To qualify for the study, you must be a heart attack survivor, have a defibrillator and an injection fraction less than 35-percent. If you meet the criteria and want more information, call the Jim Moran Heart & Vascular Center at (954) 229-8400.