Stem cell therapy for refractory angina

Stem cells (SC) have demonstrated significant potential for regeneration of ischemic myocardium in both animals and humans, primarily after acute myocardial infarction. Recently, SC therapy for unstable angina pectoris, to include intractable chest pain and non-revascularizable coronary disease, has displayed clinical benefit within this subset of patients that are often refractory to medical therapy and poor candidates for reperfusion strategies, and thereby urgent need for novel therapies. Few human clinical trials have been completed to date with positive yet variable results due to inconsistencies in trial design rendering them difficult to interpret for clinical practice. Herein, a summary of all clinical trials of SC therapy in refractory angina is provided with pertinent findings from each study.