Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect and safety of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) transplantation through proper hepatic artery in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Methods Eighty-four patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, which admitted in Department of Liver Diseases of the No.533 Hospital of People's Liberation Army from 2012 Jun to 2013 Jun, were randomly divided into transplantation group (n=36) and control group (n=48). Patients in control group received routine treatment, while patients in transplantation group received additional autologous BMSC transplantation through proper hepatic artery. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (TBil), prothrombin time (PT) and model for end stage liver disease (MELD) were evaluated in both groups during follow-up at week 4, 12, 24 and 48, respectively. Comparison of liver function at different time after therapy between two groups carried out by independent t test , F test and LSD test. Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and mortality were analyzed by χ2 test. Results Four weeks after treatment, there were 15 cases (41.7%) ascites subsiding, 21 cases (58.3%) abdominal distention disappearing and 13 cases (36.1%) edema of lower limbs relieving in transplantation group, while there were 15 cases (31.3%), 20 cases (41.7%) and 11 case (22.9%) in control group, respectively, which revealed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). In transplantation group at week 4, 12, 24, 48, there were significant improvements in ALT, Alb, TBiL, PT and MELD (F=6.172, 9.795, 10.961, 11.198, 19.652, P=0.000, respectively) than those at baseline. In control group, some parameters, including ALT, Alb and TBiL, had significant improvement (F=5.594, 13.664, 12.612, P=0.000, respectively), while other parameters, including PT and MELD, did not changed before and after therapy. At week 48, ALT, Alb, TBiL, PT and MELD showed significant differences between transplantation and control groups (t=5.477, 8.830, 6.371, 11.362, 9.426, P<0.05, respectively). No significant differences were observed in incidence of HCC and mortality (χ²=4.815、6.286, P<0.05, respectively). Additionally, no severe adverse effects occured in patients during and after transplantation. Conclusion Autologous BMSC transplantation through proper hepatic artery for decompensated liver cirrhosis is a safe and effective therapy, which could be a bridging or a complementary treatment.

Key words: Cirrhosis, Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, Transplantation, autologous, Hepatic artery, Treatment