title: Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation Improves Portal Hemodynamics in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-related Decompensated Cirrhosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may eventually lead to decompensated liver cirrhosis, which is a terminal illness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of autologous peripheral blood stem cell (APBSC) transplantation to improve portal vein hemodynamics in patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 68 hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis. These patients were divided into two groups: the transplantation group included 33 patients, while the control group included 35. Both groups received conventional medical treatment simultaneously, and APBSC transplantation was performed on the patients in the transplantation group. We evaluated the effects of APBSC transplantation on postoperative liver function using the following indices: total bilirubin, serum prothrombin and albumin, spleen size, and portal vein hemodynamics. Postoperatively, all of the patients were followed up at 24, 36, and 48 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transplantation group had no serious reactions. Compared with the control group, albumin and prothrombin activity in the transplantation group was significantly improved at 24, 36, and 48 weeks after the procedure, and spleen length and portal vein diameter were substantially reduced at 48 weeks. The velocity of peak portal vein blood flow and mean maximum portal vein blood flow were greatly increased in the APBSC transplantation group at 36 and 48 weeks, respectively; however, there was also decreased portal vein diameter, which reduced portal vein pressure in patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APBSC transplantation greatly benefits HBV-linked decompensated cirrhosis patients and should be recommended in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver Disease, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China; State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qinzhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver Disease, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver Disease, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Shun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver Disease, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Airong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver Disease, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Xingfen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yinyin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
keywords: Hepatitis B; Liver Cirrhosis; Portal Pressure; Stem Cell Transplantation