Title: Autologous bone marrow derived cells in the treatment of liver disease patients

Biography:

David Chakhunashvili is an Assistant Professor at Tbilisi State Medical University and specialist at National Center for Disease Control & Public Health, Georgia. He has his expertise in innovative research studies and devotion in improving the health for the patients throughout the world.

Abstract

One of the most challenging problems in hepatology is the treatment of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. In this study, we present data of phase I clinical trial in 34 patients with advanced decompensated liver cirrhosis, caused by chronic viral hepatitis C, and were treated with bone marrow cells (BMCs). All patients signed a written informed consent. For treatment, 100 mL of bone marrow was aspirated from the anterior iliac crest and mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll Paque Plus or Ficoll Paque Premium solution. At least 2.5x106 of mononuclear-enriched BMCs were infused into the hepatic artery of the patients through endovascular catheter, using the routine technique similar to arterial chemoembolization of liver tumors. All procedures were performed without any specific side effects or complications except for mild pain in the anterior iliac crest region and mild pain at the sites of bone marrow puncture. By the end of follow-up, the liver function tests of all patients have been improved. The follow-up visits were scheduled for 12 months after transplantation. The transplantation of BMCs in the patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis is promising, because it can improve the condition of the patients and become a bridge to the liver transplantation.