ASCs in Recently Diagnosed Non-ischemic Heart Failure

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients above 18 years of age * Written informed consent * Anticipated to be able to participate during the entire study period * Diagnosed with non-ischemic heart failure with initial LVEF ≤ 40% and then up-titrated to maximal tolerable heart failure medication within the last 12 months * Symptomatic heart failure (NYHA II-III) * LVEF ≤ 45 % documented by echocardiography, CT or MRI performed after up-titration of heart failure medication (documentation of reduced LVEF at least after 1 and 3 months if implantation of a device either an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) or Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT), respectively) * Plasma Pro-BNP \> 300 pg/ml (\> 35 pmol/L) in patients with sinus rhythm and plasma Pro-BNP \> 422 pg/ml (\> 49 pmol/L) in patients with atrial fibrillation. Exclusion Criteria: * NYHA I or IV heart failure * Documented ischemic heart failure * On-going alcohol abuse * Implantation of CRT within 3 months or ICD within 1 month * Acute coronary syndrome with elevation of CKMB (Creatine Phosphatase-Myocardial Band) or troponins, stroke or transitory cerebral ischemia within six weeks of inclusion * Expected to undergo screening for heart transplantation during the study time * Listed for heart transplantation * Other cardiac revascularization treatments to be performed * Moderate to severe aortic stenosis (valve area \< 1.1 cm2) or clinically significant mitral valve disease * Diminished functional capacity for other …