Stem cell therapy for angina pectoris | Overview including symptoms and causes

Angina pectoris is a heart condition in which the coronary arteries become narrowed due to atherosclerosis or other causes, resulting in insufficient myocardial oxygen and nutrient supply. The attack causes chest tightness and pain, and may lead to myocardial infarction if left untreated. In general, treatment to restore blood flow is performed with drug therapy or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; also known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty). However, in cases with advanced lesions or repeated recurrence, additional measures must be taken.
In recent years, stem cell therapy—a type of regenerative medicine—has attracted attention because of its potential to promote myocardial repair and angiogenesis, thereby supporting fundamental improvements in patients with angina pectoris. In this article, we list the symptoms and causes of angina pectoris, as well as conventional treatment methods, and explain how stem cell therapy can be administered effectively by following a specific treatment flow.

What is angina pectoris?

Angina pectoris is a condition caused by a temporary lack of blood flow to the cardiac muscle due to stenosis of the coronary arteries that supply oxygen and nutrients to the cardiac muscle (myocardium). In general, symptoms include chest pain, pressure, and shortness of breath, which are often triggered by increased heart rate during exercise or mental stress. Angina attacks are characterized by a relatively brief duration of symptoms that resolve after rest or with the use of nitrates, but the cardiac muscle can become completely deprived of oxygen if left untreated, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction.

Reference: NewHeart Watanabe Institute

Symptoms of angina pectoris

Symptoms of an angina attack often display the following characteristics:

• Chest pressure and tightness: Intense pressure and pain are felt at the center to the left side of the chest. The pain sometimes radiates to the jaw and left arm.
• Triggered by exercise and stress: Attacks are more likely to occur when the heart’s oxygen demand increases, such as during exercise, climbing stairs, or mental stress.
• Relieved in a short time (several minutes): Even if an attack occurs, symptoms often improve in about 5 to 10 minutes after taking a rest or using nitrates.
• May be accompanied by cold sweat and palpitations: In addition to pain, many patients experience cold sweat, difficulty in breathing, and increased heart rate concurrently.

The severity of symptoms varies from individual to individual; moreover, some patients have asymptomatic angina with almost no chest pain. Thus, a delay in examination or consultation can increase the risk of myocardial infarctio. *2

*2 Reference: NewHeart Watanabe Institute

Causes of angina pectoris

In many cases, angina pectoris occurs when the coronary arteries become narrowed by atherosclerosis, resulting in insufficient blood flow to the cardiac muscle. The following risk factors lead to the progression of atherosclerosis:

• Hypertension: Increased pressure inside the blood vessels make the walls of the vessel susceptible to accumulated injury.
• Dyslipidemia (e.g., high levels of LDL cholesterol): Plaques form in blood vessels, narrowing the lumen of the coronary arteries.
• Diabetes mellitus: Hyperglycemia damages blood vessels, thus accelerating the progression of atherosclerosis.
• Smoking: The harmful substances in tobacco contract blood vessels and induce atherosclerosis.
• Obesity and lack of exercise: Excessive food consumption and lack of exercise result in abnormal lipid and blood glucose metabolism.

*3

*3 Reference:  Tokyo Private Clinic

Stem cell therapy as a promising radical treatment for angina pectoris

Currently, stem cell therapy is attracting attention as a treatment for angina pectoris.

What is stem cell therapy?

Conventionally, the treatment of angina pectoris mainly involved drug therapy (e.g., nitrates, β-blockers, calcium antagonists), PCI (where a stent is inserted through a catheter to reestablish blood flow), coronary artery bypass surgery, or other methods aimed at symptom relief and revascularization. Stem cell therapy, which has attracted attention in recent years, is a regenerative medicine approach to repair the cardiac muscle and blood vessels using stem cells, which have the ability to regenerate damaged tissues. It has been suggested that stem cells promote inflammatory suppression and angiogenesis by secreting various cytokines and growth factors, which is expected to lead to radical improvements in patients with angina pectoris.

Advantages of stem cell therapy

The following advantages are the reason why stem cell therapy holds promise in the context of angina pectoris.

• Angiogenesis and improved microcirculation: New blood vessels are formed by growth factors secreted by stem cells, alleviating the ischemic state that causes angina pectoris.
• Regeneration of myocardial function: Stem cells may differentiate into cardiomyocytes or suppress inflammation, thereby inducing activation of the remaining cardiomyocytes.
• Low risk of side effects: Since autologous stem cells are used, chances of rejection responses and serious adverse reactions are relatively low
• Combination with other therapies: Synergistic therapeutic effects may be achieved when used in combination with conventional methods such as drugs, catheterization, and bypass surgery.

Reasons why stem cell therapy is effective

The regenerative capability of stem cells is not just limited to complementing damaged myocardium; it is believed that vascular and immune functions are supported simultaneously. Stem cells are expected to exert multifaceted effects by secreting cytokines and growth factors, improving microcirculation to increase local oxygen and nutrition supply, and suppressing inflammation to adjust the tissue environment. Such a comprehensive approach is believed to alleviate coronary artery stenosis and microvascular disorders that cause angina pectoris, leading to long-term maintenance and recovery of cardiac function.

Flow of treatment at the Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation

At the Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation, the following steps are taken when administering stem cell therapy for angina pectoris.

1. Initial counseling and tests: The indication of stem cell therapy will be judged comprehensively based on the patient’s medical history and results of tests such as echocardiography, electrocardiography, and coronary angiography.
2. Stem cell collection and culture: Stem cells will be extracted from the patient’s adipose tissue and grown in a clean room. Strict quality control will be implemented.
3. Design of the treatment plan: The frequency and method (e.g., intravenous infusion, catheter) of administration of stem cells will be determined according to the patient’s symptoms, condition of the coronary arteries, complications, and so on.
4. Stem cell administration and follow-up: After stem cells are actually introduced into the patient’s body via intravenous infusion, the level of recovery of cardiac function, improvement of symptoms, presence/absence of adverse reactions, etc. can be regularly monitored and communicated with doctors at other hospitals. Additional administration or changes in the treatment plan will be made as necessary.

Possibility of treating angina pectoris using stem cells

Angina pectoris is a serious disease manifested as chest pain and shortness of breath caused by the narrowing of the coronary arteries in the heart, which prevents the cardiac muscles from receiving sufficient blood. The risk of progression to myocardial infarction is high if left untreated, and early therapeutic intervention is important. Stem cell therapy has attracted attention in recent years as a regenerative medicine technique that aims to repair and regenerate lost tissues. Stem cells promote angiogenesis, inflammatory suppression, and activation of cardiomyocytes, thereby improving the ischemic state responsible for angina pectoris and potentially supporting cardiac function in the long term. The Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation proposes optimal stem cell therapy tailored according to the pathological condition of each patient and provides support aimed at greatly improving the quality of life.

The Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation offers stem cell-based regenerative medicine as a medical institution approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. *15

If you are interested in stem cell therapy, please contact our hospital for consultation.
The Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation carefully selects evidence-based treatment and offers regenerative medicine according to each individual’s concerns based on novel comprehensive treatment strategies. To optimize the results, oral therapies such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy or peptide therapy can be combined with stem cell therapy, if preferred.

*15 Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation – a stem cell therapy clinic in Tokyo

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[1] Therapeutic Method
The treatment involves harvesting and culturing stem cells from the patient’s adipose tissue and then injecting them locally to the affected area or administering them via intravenous infusion.
[2] Risk of side effects
At the time of fat collection: Adverse reactions such as internal bleeding, swelling, postoperative infection, postoperative scar, and pain at the injection site may be observed.
At the time of stem cell administration: Adverse reactions such as pain at the injection site, allergic reaction, and pulmonary embolism may be observed.
[3] Contact information
The Regenerative Medicine Division, Korokai Medical Corporation
5th floor, Precious 18, 4-14-6 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
TEL:03-6277-4650
[4] Pricing
This treatment is a private therapeutic strategy that is not covered by public health insurance.
For culture of approximately 100–180 million stem cells
*Depending on the number of stem cell cultures obtained from each individual, it may be less than 100 million stem cells.
1 cycle costs 2.5 million yen (tax included)
3 cycles cost 7.2 million yen (payment in installments: 2.5 million yen for the first and second cycles, 2.3 million yen for the third cycle)
5 cycles cost 11.5 million yen (tax included) (payment in installments: 2.5 million yen for the first through fourth cycles, 1.5 million yen for the fifth cycle)
For culture of approximately 200–280 million stem cells
*Depending on the number of stem cell cultures obtained from each individual, it may be less than 200 million stem cells.
1 cycle costs 3.8 million yen (tax included)
3 cycles cost 11.1 million yen (tax included) (payment in installments: 3.8 million yen for the first and second cycles, 3.5 million yen for the third cycle)
5 cycles cost 17.5 million yen (tax included) (payment in installments: 3.8 million yen for the first through fourth cycles, 2.3 million yen for the fifth cycle)
Please consult us for further details.
[5] Route of acquisition
Stem cells are cultured at the affiliated CPC.
[6] Presence or absence of devices/drugs approved for the indications in Japan
No approved drugs for the indications are available in Japan.
[7] Safety information from other countries
There are no reports on safety in other countries.
*Significant risks may not have been identified.
[8] The fact that it has not been approved
Drugs used in this treatment are yet to receive approval in accordance with the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act.
[9] Unapproved drugs/devices
Public aid systems (such as Relief Systems for Adverse Drug Reactions and Infections Acquired through Biological Products) are not applicable to unapproved drugs and devices.
[10] Notification of regenerative medicine provision plans
To perform this treatment, we have submitted the notification of regenerative medicine provision plans to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in accordance with the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class II Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan No. PB3210146
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class II Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan, No. PB3230187
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class II Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan, No. PB3240017
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class II Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan, No. PB3230218
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