Autologous muscle-derived cells for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: A 2-year follow-up of a polish investigation

Aims We evaluated the safety, feasibility and initial effects of therapy with muscle‐derived cells (MDCs) for women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods MDCs were isolated from an upper‐arm muscle biopsy from 16 women with SUI. Cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion and expanded in vitro for 8–10 weeks. A quantity of 0.6–25 × 106 of the obtained cells were injected transurethrally into the urethral rhabdosphincter of women under local anesthesia. The cells were placed circumferentially at the 9, 12, and 3 O'clock positions with endoscopic guidance. Results The initial results of the treatment of SUI with adult muscle‐derived stem cells demonstrate the safety and feasibility of using these cells. The 2‐year follow‐up revealed a 75% success rate, with some patients achieving complete improvement (50%) and some patients achieving partial improvement (25%), suggesting that the prospects for this method are encouraging. Conclusions Stem cell therapy promises to become a minimally invasive method for the regeneration of the urethral rhabdosphincter muscle. Injecting a small number of cells does not preclude obtaining the desired therapeutic result. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:324–330, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.