CMR-based left ventricular strain reflects the therapeutic effect of stem cells in chronic ischemic heart disease

Motivation: CMR left ventricular strain analysis is a crucial tool for assessing myocardial status, capable of identifying and evaluating regional myocardial dysfunction caused by coronary artery disease. Goal(s): This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of cellular therapy in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease using left ventricular strain indices. Approach: 38 patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly assigned to receive cellular therapy or serve as controls, followed by CMR imaging and strain analysis of various left ventricular views. Results: Preliminary results indicate improvements in some CMR-derived strain indices in the cellular therapy group post-treatment, especially notable at 6 months post-operation. Impact: This study provides new insights into the assessment of cellular therapy efficacy using CMR left ventricular strain indices, offering a more profound understanding and evaluation method for cellular therapy in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease.