title: Autologous Stem Cells Transplantation in Egyptian Patients with Liver Cirrhosis on Top of Hepatitis C Virus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Use of pluripotent stem cells is an ideal solution for liver insufficiencies. This work aims is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of autologous stem cells transplantation (SCT) in Egyptian patients of liver cirrhosis on top of hepatitis C virus (HCV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  20 patients with HCV induced liver cirrhosis were divided into 2 groups. Group I: included 10 patients with liver cirrhosis Child score ≥9, for whom autologous stem cell transplantation was done using granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for stem cells mobilization. Separation and collection of the peripheral blood stem cells was done by leukapheresis. G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (G-CSF PB-MNCs) were counted by flow cytometry. Stem cell injection into the hepatic artery was done. Group II: included 10 patients with HCV induced liver cirrhosis as a control group. Follow up and comparison between both groups were done over a follow up period of 6 months. The procedure was well tolerated. Mobilization was successful and the total number of G-CSF PB-MNCs in the harvests ranged from 25×10(6) to 191×10(6). There was improvement in the quality of life, serum albumin, total bilirubin, liver enzymes and the Child-Pugh score of group I over the first two-three months after the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SCT in HCV induced liver cirrhosis is a safe procedure. It can improve the quality of life and hepatic functions transiently with no effect on the life expectancy or the fate of the liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Tayeb
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Dorry
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nehad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mowafy
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimaity
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Essam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bayoumy
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Shereen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Saleh
keywords: Autologous; HCV; Liver cirrhosis; Stem cells; Transplantation