OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation in the treatment of severe liver damage.

METHODSAutologous bone marrow (50 ml) was harvested from 6 patients aged 44 to 69 years admitted for severe liver damage. Human bone marrow stem cells (HMSCs) were isolated and transplanted in to the patients' liver. At l, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the transplantation, the changes in ALT, ALB, Cr, TB, PT and the clinical symptoms of the patients were observed.

RESULTSThe transplantation of autologous bone marrow stem cells resulted in obvious improvement of the liver function. At 12 weeks after the transplantation, ALT was reduced from 98.4 IU/L to 41.5 IU/L, TB from 136.5 µmol/L to 78.4 µmol/L, Cr from 112.3 µmol/L to 72.1 µmol/L, and ALB rose from 23.3 g/L to 32.6 g/L. The survival of the patients was 100% at 12 weeks, but one patient died at 7 months after the transplantation. The symptoms of the patients were also alleviated after the transplantation. At 12 weeks after transplantation, 3 patients reported improved appetite, 3 showed recovery of physical strength, and 2 showed lessened abdominal swelling. No serious adverse complications in association with the transplantation were found in the in 4 patients available to the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONAutologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation can improve the liver function of patients with severe liver damage without causing serious complications.