Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Cirrhosis Patients

BM (200 ml) will be harvested from the iliac crest according to standard procedures under general anesthesia and is collected in plastic bags containing anti coagulant. After precipitation of red blood cells, Low density mononuclear cells will be collected by centrifugation in Ficoll-Paque density gradient. For CD133+ cells separation the CliniMACS instrument will be used. Cells are injected via portal vein under sonography monitoring. After cell therapy, patients are followed up every week for 4 weeks, and laboratory data are analyzed for 24 weeks.

Inclusion criteria

• Liver biopsy showing histological Cirrhosis, grade B or C (Child-Pugh score)
• Alkaline phosphatase between 2 X to 3X normal value
• liver Cirrhosis in Sonography study
• Incomplete response to UDCA after 6 months of treatment.
• Negative pregnancy test (female patients in fertile age)
• written consent

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of active hepatic encephalopathy
• Refractory ascites
• Evidences of active autoimmune liver disease (e.g. gamma globulin of more than 2 times of upper limit of normal, and ALT > 3 times normal in patients with autoimmune hepatitis)
• Hepatocellular carcinoma or other malignancies
• sepsis
• Presence of significant extrahepatic biliary disease (e.g. CBD stone, PSC, etc.)
• HIV, HBV or HCV infection
• Cardiac, renal or respiratory failure
• Active thrombosis of the portal or hepatic veins
• INR>2