BTN News: In a significant breakthrough, a new study suggests that applying gentle shockwaves could help regenerate heart tissue in patients undergoing bypass surgery. This innovative approach, which has shown promising results in preliminary trials, may offer renewed hope for millions of people suffering from heart disease—the leading cause of death worldwide. Conducted in Austria, the research involved 63 participants and demonstrated that those who received this novel treatment could walk greater distances and experienced improved cardiac function, with their hearts pumping more blood than before.
The study marks the first time that scientists have observed heart muscle regeneration in a clinical setting, a development that could revolutionize how heart disease is treated globally. Led by Professor Johannes Holfeld from the Medical University of Innsbruck, the research team is now planning larger clinical trials to confirm these findings in a broader patient population. The device used in the treatment, affectionately nicknamed the “space hairdryer” by researchers, could soon become a standard tool in heart surgery if further studies are successful.
Every year, around 18 million people worldwide succumb to heart disease or other cardiovascular complications, according to the World Health Organization. Contributing factors include high blood pressure, poor diet, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. Despite advances in medical science, there is no cure for heart disease, which continues to claim more lives than any other condition globally. While medications and treatments can help manage the disease and reduce the risk of heart attacks, which occur when blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked, they cannot reverse the damage already done to the heart muscle.
In severe cases, surgeons often perform a bypass surgery, where a healthy blood vessel from the chest, leg, or arm is grafted onto the heart to bypass a blocked artery. While this procedure is effective in preserving heart function, it does not enhance it. The Austrian research team aimed to change this by applying gentle sound waves to the damaged heart tissue shortly after bypass surgery. The process, which takes about 10 minutes, is designed to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels around the damaged or scarred area following a heart attack.
This innovative approach draws inspiration from similar shockwave techniques already used to treat conditions like tendon and ligament injuries, erectile dysfunction, and kidney stones through a process known as lithotripsy. In this context, however, the shockwaves are applied at a much gentler intensity to encourage tissue regeneration without causing harm.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, revealed that patients treated with these gentle shockwaves showed a significant improvement in heart function. A year after their bypass surgery, the amount of oxygenated blood pumped by the heart increased by 11.3% in the group that received the treatment, compared to a 6.3% increase in the control group who underwent a placebo procedure. Additionally, patients who received the shockwave therapy reported being able to walk longer distances without rest and noted an overall better quality of life. This improvement could translate into more ordinary activities, like walking the dog or shopping, being within reach for patients once more.
Furthermore, researchers anticipate that patients who receive this treatment may enjoy a longer life expectancy with fewer hospital visits due to heart-related complications. Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, the associate medical director of the British Heart Foundation, noted the potential for this therapy to fill gaps in current heart disease treatments. While she emphasized the need for larger and longer trials to assess the long-term effects of this therapy, the preliminary results are certainly promising.
The research team hopes to secure regulatory approval for the device in Europe by the end of this year, with the first use in patients outside clinical trials anticipated in 2025. The study received funding from the Austrian government, the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and a spinoff company from the Medical University of Innsbruck, in which some of the researchers hold partial ownership.
As the global fight against heart disease continues, the development of such innovative treatments could mark a new era in cardiac care, offering not just a way to manage the disease but potentially to heal the heart itself.
