A meta-analysis of stem cell mobilization by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: This project was aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) as an adjunctive therapy to the standard therapy [percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and conventional medication] after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of G-CSF as an adjunctive therapy to standard therapy versus standard therapy was performed. The endpoints were defined as (1) target-vessel restenosis, (2) cumulative cardiac events (CCEs) that were a combined endpoint of all-cause deaths, reinfarction, and target-vessel revascularization, and (3) the changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from baseline to follow-up.

Results: 320 patients were involved in 6 RCTs, of whom 160 were randomized to the G-CSF group and 160 to the control group. The follow-up period was 6.17 +/- 3.49 months. There was no significant difference in the risk of target-vessel restenosis (P = 0.90) or CCEs (P = 0.59) between the two groups. When a pooled analysis of the changes in LVEF was performed with fixed-model effect, a significant heterogeneity was observed (P < 0.00001). The pooled analysis was thus conducted with random-model effect and did not show a significant improvement as compared to the control group (P = 0.34). A similar result was found in the sensitivity analysis based on five placebo-controlled trials involving 270 patients (P = 0.94).

Conclusions: G-CSF as an adjunctive therapy to standard therapy for patients with AMI may be safe. However, there is not much supporting evidence that this treatment could further improve LVEF. Since there are relatively few RCTs that meet the inclusion criteria and are heterogeneous in design, further research is required.