Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Implantation in Patients With Severe Thromboangiitis Obliterans

Abstract

Background: Patients with severe Buerger disease, also known as thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), are at risk of major limb amputation. It has been shown that autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) implantation improves the condition of critical limb ischemia in TAO patients. This study was conducted to further clarify the long-term (>10 years) results of autologous BM-MNC implantation in patients with TAO. Methods and Results: An observational study was conducted of the long-term results of BM-MNC implantation in 47 lower limbs of 27 patients with TAO. The mean (±SD) follow-up period was 12.0±8.6 years. There was no major amputation event up to 10 years of follow-up in patients treated with BM-MNC implantation. The overall amputation-free survival rates were significantly higher in patients who underwent BM-MNC implantation than in internal controls and historical controls. There was no significant difference in amputation-free survival rates between the historical and internal controls. There was also no significant difference in overall survival between patients who underwent BM-MNC implantation and the historical controls. Conclusions: BM-MNC transplantation successfully prevented major limb amputation over a period of >10 years in patients with severe TAO who had no other therapeutic options.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound for ‘no-option’ chronic/critical limb-threatening ischaemia in a patient with Buerger disease: a case report

“…The clinical course of the disease varies in individuals, and the results of current conventional revascularization treatment options remain unpredictable due to unsuitable target vessels, limited native conduits, and migratory thrombophlebitis. 4 , 5 In this study, we report a patient with TAO with Rutherford classification Stage 6 CLTI and localized infections who refused amputation and was provided with an option of non-invasive therapeutic angiogenesis treatment to treat his symptoms and to improve his quality of life.…”