Application of autologous hemopoietic stem cells in inoperable patients with chronic critical lower limb ischemia

The OBJECTIVE was to study the efficiency of transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells in patients with chronic critical lower limb ischemia and compare the results of treatment depending on the number of their transplantations.METHODS AND MATERIALS. 9 patients with chronic critical lower limb ischemia, recognized as inoperable, received courses of conservative therapy in clinic supplemented with transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells. Patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group included 4 patients who underwent from 2 to 6 transplantations of autologous hematopoietic stem cells at six-month intervals. The second group included 5 patients who underwent only 1 transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated by objective and subjective signs: an increase in the distance of painless walking, an increase in the ankle-shoulder index. Microcirculation was assessed using three-phase scintigraphy.RESULTS. Relief of rest pains was noted in all patients. The distance of pain-free walking ranged from 200 to 600 m, the ankle-brachial index increased in 8 out of 9 patients. Scintigraphy data demonstrated the improvement of microcirculation in all patients.CONCLUSION. The use of autologous hematopoietic stem cells is an effective method in treatment of chronic critical lower limb ischemia. The number of transplantations of autologous hematopoietic stem cells does not affect the clinical effect. Further research is needed in the field of cell therapy for chronic critical lower limb ischemia.