Treatment of chronic hepatic failure with autologous bone marrow stem cells transplantation

Objective Recent advances have implicated that bone marrow-derived stem cells could differentiate into hepatocytes and play a important role in the regulation of liver regeneration. In this study we investigated the possibility of treatment for patients with liver failure by transplantation of self-bone marrow derived stem cells. Methods Patients were divided into two groups, the transplant group and control group. Bone marrow was harvested(30-50 ml) from patients in the transplant group. To get the bone marrow stem cells, bone marrow was processed by density gradient sedimentation, the final preparation of BMSC were infused into liver of patients via hepatic artery. At different time (1week, 2weeks,4weeks, 8weeks) after transplantation, ALT, TBIL, DBIL, ALB, PTA were tested, and the survival rate and improvement of symptom were recorded. Results After transplantation of bone marrow stem cells, the liver function of patients improved. Eight weeks after transplantation, ALT reduced from 181.71 μmol/L to 72.1 μmol/L;TBIL frome 153.1 μmol/L to 80.2 μmol/L;DBIL from 74.1 μmol/L to 40.5 μmol/L; ALB elevated from 26.5 μmol/L to 31.5 μmol/L; PTA rose from 28.23% to 50.1%; the survival rate of transplant group were higher than that of control group; symptoms of patients of transplant group were better. Eight weeks after transplantation, ascites decreased in 10 cases(50%), appetite improved in 15 cases(75%), abdomen distention ameliorated in 9 cases(45%); no serious events developed in 20 patients with bone marrow stem cells transplantation. Conclusion The liver function of patients with severe liver disease were significantly improved after bone marrow stem cells transplantation,the preliminary results indicate that it is safe and effective.