Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor administered for autologous hematopoietic stem cell isolation from blood may favor restenosis in patients implanted after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We therefore tested the isolation of peripheral-blood CD34؉ cells without mobilization in six patients with AMI. After large-volume cytapheresis and positive CD34 ؉ cell selection, 3.6 to 27.6 million CD34؉ cells were obtained. We performed intracoronary implantation of these cells and recorded no restenosis or arrhythmia. We used positron emission tomography (PET) to assess myocardial-labeled CD34 ؉ cell homing, which accounted for 5.5% of injected cells 1 hour after implantation. In conclusion, large amounts of CD34 ؉ cells, in the range reported in previous studies, can be obtained from nonmobilized peripheral blood. PET with [18 F]-fluorodeoxyglucose cell labeling is an efficient imaging method for homing assessment. STEM CELLS 2006;24:333-336
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