title: Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for refractory scleroderma: a report of 2 cases.
abstract: We treated 2 patients with progressive, refractory scleroderma with a combined immunotherapy approach using plasmapheresis followed by rituximab and then intravenous umbilical-cord-derived allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Both patients improved subjectively and objectively for over a year. Upon recurrence of their symptoms, the patients were treated again with allogeneic MSCs alone with a very good response. The combination was well tolerated and effective suggesting a large scale study may be warranted in progressive, refractory Scleroderma.
authors: Department of Hematology, The Lebanese Canadian and Notre Dame Du Liban University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Terek
authors: T
authors: Wehbe
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Al Ahli Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Abi Saab
authors: Nassim Abi Chahine, Neurological Surgery, The Lebanese-Canadian Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Nassim
authors: N
authors: Abi Chahine
authors: The Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Talar
authors: T
authors: Margossian
keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); plasmapheresis; refractory scleroderma