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The innovative procedure involves taking bone marrow from the patient’s pelvis, harvesting stem cells and injecting these straight into the heart.
So far, just 150 people have received the treatment, which has seen an incredible 80 per cent positive response with patients typically experiencing improved heart function and a better quality of life with no further use of medication.
Now, doctors hope it could change the lives of countless people living with heart failure.
The procedure, which normally costs up to £10,000 per patient, is not available on the NHS.
Professor Anthony Mathur, the senior cardiologist leading the programme, said the results so far are “impressive”.
He said: “To achieve long-lasting, potentially life-saving health benefits with no need for additional medication is revolutionary, and could save the NHS millions.”
Heart failure affects 900,000 people in the UK. It is caused by the heart failing to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure, because the muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly.
It causes breathlessness, extreme tiredness and death. For most people, it is a long-term condition that can’t be cured and is managed with medication such as betablockers. In the most serious cases, a heart transplant may be required.
Heart failure can be caused by high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, an abnormal rhythm or weak heart muscles.
Trials of the treatment were funded by the Heart Cells