EPO-loaded gelatin patch decreases MI size myocardial infarct size
This article was originally published in Clinica
In what could provide a new therapeutic strategy for ischaemic heart disease, a Japanese team has found that an erythropoietin (EPO)-loaded gelatin hydrogel sheet applied to the myocardial surface could reduce infarct size.
EPO, a naturally-occurring hormone that stimulates the body to produce more red blood cells, has been reported to protect ischemic myocardium, according to the group, led by researchers from the Gifu University. But because the effective dose of EPO is too high to beadministered systemically via subcutaneous injections, theinvestigators sought to assess a different delivery approach for the hormone. They hypothesised that an EPO-gelatin hydrogel sheet applied to the heart would be beneficial for myocardial infarction, without causing any side effects.
In a rabbit study, the team compared systemic EPO injection with EPO delivered via the sheet.over 14 days.
The study's findings, released at last week's European Society of Cardiology 2007 meeting in Vienna, Austria, revealed that unlike EPO injection, the EPO sheet decreased myocardial infarct size and improved left ventricular function and cardiac remodelling, and it was not linked with side effects.