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Abstract

The present invention provides a system for treating heart disease using a combination of pro-angiogenesis therapy and cellular cardiomyoplasty. The system is particularly useful in treating patients with damaged myocardium due coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and ischemia. A pro-angiogenic factor (e.g., VEGF) or a means of delivering a pro-angiogenic factor (e.g., a genetically engineered adenovirus, adeno-asssociated virus, or cells) is administered to the heart in order to promote new blood vessel growth in an ischemic or damaged area of the patient's heart. Cells such as skeletal myoblasts or stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells) with the potential to divide, differentiate, and integrate themselves into the injured myocardium are then administered into the affected area of the heart. By inducing new blood vessels growth in the injured myocardium, the cells are better able to grow and become an integral part of the heart. The invention also provides kits for use in treating a patient using the inventive method. Such kits may contain cells, catheters, syringes, needles, cell culture materials, polynucleotides, media, buffers, etc.

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First Claim