Lasting amelioration in the clinical course of decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis with boost infusions of mobilized peripheral blood stem cells

Abstract

For end-stage liver disease, liver transplantation provides the only definite cure; however, many patients die while in the waiting list for donation. Various stem cell populations have been described to contribute to liver regeneration and there is accumulating evidence for the participation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in this process. We here report two cases treated with boost infusions of autologous mobilized HSCs to regenerate cirrhotic liver. The procedure was safe and well tolerated. Both patients showed a lasting amelioration in the clinical course of the disease during the 30 months of follow-up. These results suggest that the procedure may be considered in a clinical study setting as a bridging therapy until organ transplantation becomes available or to reverse a decompensated cirrhosis to a compensated one. Additional studies in this area will be required to document efficacy and evaluate toxicity.