Autologous hematopoietic stem cells for treatment of end-stage chronic liver disease

This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells in 48 end-stage cirrhosis patients (36 with chronic end-stage hepatitis C-induced liver disease and 12 with end-stage autoimmune liver disease). Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells. Following leukapheresis, CD34+ stem cells were isolated, amplified, and partially differentiated in culture, and then reinjected into each subject. Three patients had serious treatment-related complications, and 20.8% of patients died within the 12-month follow up period. A statistically significant decrease in ascites was recorded among all patients, and clinical and biochemical improvements were observed among a large percentage of treated patients. This study suggests that autologous CD34+ stem cell transplantation is safe and appears to offer some therapeutic benefit to patients with both viral and autoimmune-induced end-stage liver disease.