Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells treatment for refractory uveitis: a case series
Jing Yang, Xiteng Chen, Yuanfeng Jiang, Zhibo Han, Zhongchao Han, Xiaorong Li, Xiaomin Zhang
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate therapeutic outcomes of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) treatment in patients with refractory uveitis. METHODS: cells/kg. Clinical response, relapse rate, change of visual acuity, and other metrics were evaluated. RESULTS: All four patients presented with responses to HUC-MSCs treatment, with three males and one female. The numbers of uveitis attacks per year after the HUC-MSCs treatment (0, 2, 0, 0 respectively) all decreased compared with the numbers before the treatment (3, 6, 4, 4 respectively). The oral steroid and immunosuppressive agents were tapered in all patients without recrudescence of ocular inflammation, and three patients discontinued their oral medicine at the last visit. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 3 patients was improved to varying degrees, and the BCVA of 1 patient remained at 20/20 (Snellen chart) from the first to the last consultation. CONCLUSION: The study provides an effective therapy of HUC-MSCs in maintaining remission in patients affected by uveitis refractory to previous immunosuppressant treatments.