24/09/09
Heart treatment must pass safety
tests before use in the UK
The media has reported that British and Greek
doctors have used a combination of an artificial heart and
stem cells to treat a man with heart failure in
Greece.
Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at
the British Heart Foundation, said:
“Before any procedure can be offered on the
NHS there must be good evidence to prove it is
safe, effective and
affordable.
“The stem cell aspect of the
treatment carried out in Greece is not based on evidence. Studies
are underway to assess how and when stem cells may be used for
heart repair, but there’s still a long way to
go.
“We urgently need a robust
and controlled trial of permanent treatment with
‘mechanical hearts’ compared to conventional
therapies for patients with severe heart failure.
“These devices can cause complications for
patients so we can’t assume that they will provide
a better quantity and quality of life than medical treatment
without a properly conducted trial.”
Artificial 'mechanical' hearts, otherwise
known as ‘left ventricular assist devices’ are currently
used temporarily to support failing hearts while the
patient waits for a transplant. BHF-funded research has
indicated that they could also have a role in helping hearts to
recover in people with heart failure caused
by a rare condition called ‘dilated cardiomyopathy’.
