A stem cell therapy for congestive heart failure has so far not shown any benefit, a conference has heard.
The Belgian-led project has tested the treatment against a sham therapy.
But researchers say the study has identified groups of patients who might benefit from the treatment.
Findings of the CHART-1 project were reported to the conference of the European Society of Cardiology held in Rome, Italy.
Some 120 patients from Europe and Israel received stem cells while 151 received sham treatment.
The study showed no benefit from stem cell therapy over sham treatment after 39 weeks – except in a small group of patients with severe heart enlargement.
Researcher Professor Jozek Bartunek, of the OLD Hospital Aalst, Belgium, said: “Within a well-defined patient population, based on baseline heart failure severity, this therapy showed benefit.
“Lessons learned from CHART-1 will now provide the foundation for the design of the ensuing CHART-2 trial which will target these patients.”
* Two studies reported to the conference found no benefits from remote monitoring of implantable cardiac devices.
One UK-based study was led by Imperial College, London. A second project in Modena, Italy, studied remote monitoring of biventricular defibrillators.
* Meanwhile the society launched new guidelines for the care of atrial fibrillation, developed jointly with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.
* It also launched a position paper on tackling the cardiac toxicity of anti-cancer treatments.
* And guidelines on the management of dyslipidaemia, calling for reductions in lipid levels. Patients receiving treatment should achieve a 50% reduction LDL cholesterol, it says.
The society recommends doctors focus on lifestyle and nutrition rather than relying solely on statins.
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