Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Advanced Liver Cirrhosis: A Case Report

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplant may offer an alternative to liver transplantation in patients with end‐stage liver disease. However, its efficacy remains uncertain. MSC was performed on a 50‐year‐old male with decompensated (Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh grade C) alcoholic liver cirrhosis due to an absence of donors for adult‐deceased and living‐related liver transplantation. Autologous bone marrow‐derived MSCs were harvested from the patient and cultured using standard protocols. The MSCs were subsequently re‐administrated into the liver via hepatic intra‐arterial infusion on two separate occasions. After infusion, there was an improvement in biochemical parameters (serum total bilirubin, serum albumin), and a reduction of diuretic use for ascites for up to 8 weeks. However, all biochemical and clinical parameters deteriorated on long‐term follow‐up without any further infusions. The patient eventually succumbed to his disease. MSC transplantation may have a clinical benefit on adult patients with end‐stage liver cirrhosis, but this appears to be transitory.