Bibliometrics of trends in global research on the roles of stem cells in myocardial fibrosis therapy.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis, a condition linked to several cardiovascular diseases, is associated with a poor prognosis. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential treatment option and the application of stem cell therapy has been studied extensively. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of these studies has yet to be conducted.

Aim: To map thematic trends, analyze research hotspots, and project future directions of stem cell-based myocardial fibrosis therapy.

Methods: We conducted a bibliometric and visual analysis of studies in the Web of Science Core Collection using VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel. The dataset included 1510 articles published between 2001 and 2024. Countries, organizations, authors, references, keywords, and co-citation networks were examined to identify evolving research trends.

Results: Our findings revealed a steady increase in the number of publications, with a projected increase to over 200 publications annually by 2030. Initial research focused on stem cell-based therapy, particularly for myocardial infarction and heart failure. More recently, there has been a shift toward cell-free therapy, involving extracellular vesicles, exosomes, and microRNAs. Key research topics include angiogenesis, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, and oxidative stress.

Conclusion: This analysis highlights the evolution of stem cell therapies for myocardial fibrosis, with emerging interest in cell-free approaches. These results are expected to guide future scientific exploration and decision-making.