title: Use of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt combined with autologous bone marrow cell infusion in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis: an exploratory study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently, there is no treatment for decompensated liver cirrhosis except for liver transplantation. The safety and effect on liver function of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with and without autologous bone marrow cell (BMC) infusion in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients who were diagnosed with decompensated liver cirrhosis during the period from September 2011 to July 2012 were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent TIPS (TIPS group) or combined treatment with TIPS and BMC infusion through the hepatic artery (TIPS+BMC group). All patients were monitored for adverse events, liver function and complications caused by portal hypertension during a period of 52 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of infused BMCs was 2.65 ± 1.20 ×10(9). Significant improvements in the serum levels of albumin and total bilirubin and decreased Child-Pugh scores were observed in patients treated with both TIPS and BMCs (P < 0.05), whereas no such changes were observed in the TIPS group. Endoscopic findings showed that varices in the esophagus and the gastric fundus were alleviated after either treatment. All 10 patients showed a complete or partial resolution of ascites at 4 weeks. No major adverse effects were noted during the follow-up period for patients in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TIPS combined with BMC infusion is clinically safe; the treatment improved liver function and alleviated complications caused by portal hypertension; therefore, this combination has potential for treatment of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, The 452(nd) Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: mysterioussc@qq.com.
authors.forename: Maotao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, The 452(nd) Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Zaoming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, The 452(nd) Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Daijin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, The 452(nd) Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Yaling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, The 452(nd) Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, The 452(nd) Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, The 452(nd) Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, The 452(nd) Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, The 452(nd) Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic / Q000379:methods*
keywords: bone marrow cell; hematopoietic stem cell; liver cirrhosis; transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt