ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:There are most single-center studies about bone marrow stem cels applied to treat decompensated cirrhosis, but the therapeutic results are not ideal. It is possibly related to aging, physical weakness, poor bone marrow hematopoietic function, less available number of stem cels and feeble ability of regeneration and proliferation in liver cirrhosis patients. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels are characterized of easy to obtain, wide source and weak immunogenicity. Co-transplantation of bone marrow stem cels and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels may improve the therapeutic effects on decompensated cirrhosis patients. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy and safety of co-transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels and bone marrow stem cels on decompensated cirrhosis.METHODS:Thirty-two decompensated cirrhosis patients were randomly divided into two groups: in stem cel group, 13 patients received co-transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels and bone marrow stem cels based on regular medical treatment; in control group, 19 patients only underwent the regular medical treatment. Al the patients were folow-up for 1 year. Alanine aminotransferase, albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time, Child-Pugh score and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, 1-year survival rate, Quality of Life score and adverse reactions related to stem cel therapy were observed and recorded in the two groups at 4, 12, 52 weeks after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 4, 12, 52 weeks after treatment, improvements in the liver function, prothrombin time, Child-Pugh score and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score were found in the two groups, but there was no difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 4 weeks after transplantation, the clinical symptoms and Quality of Life score in the stem cel group were significantly improved, which were better than those in the control group (P 0.05). In addition, the 1-year survival rate showed no difference between the two groups, and no severe adverse reactions related to stem cel therapy occurred during the folow-up. Co-transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels and bone marrow stem cels is safe and effective to improve the clinical symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis patients. However, further studies with larger samples are warranted to better clarify the co-transplantation effects.