Use of stem cells may transform the medical therapy for acute and chronic heart disease, with a predictable impact rivalling the results of revascularization and device therapies. Many cell types have been studied recently, and promising preclinical and clinical data are available on their efficacy and safety in the setting of various disorders such as arrhythmia and conduction disease. However, there are still many hurdles to be tackled for the routine clinical application of these cells. A better understanding of the biology of stem cells will help in the design of future strategies.
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