Study of Autologous Bone Marrow Concentrate for the Treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI)

Feasibility Study of the Safety and Activity of Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) for the Treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia Due to Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease

Injections of concentrated bone marrow mononuclear cells into ischemic tissues will result in vasculogenesis

Bone marrow aspirate is collected and processed by centrifugation to remove red blood cells. The buffy coat is concentrated by removing plasma. The resultant concentrate of cells is injected into ischemic tissues of the lower limb.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Critical Limb Ischemia per protocol (see diagnostic criteria #2) with regard to the study limb.

Existence of a PAOD with clinical presentation corresponding to Rutherford Category 4 or Category 5 as defined in the reporting standards adopted by the Society of Vascular Surgeons (table 1)

• Patient meets at least one of the following diagnostic criteria in the study limb:

  • Ankle artery occlusion pressure absolute <50 mmHg or ABI <0.4
  • Toe artery occlusive pressure < 40mm Hg or TBI (<0.4)
  • TcPO2 <20 mmHg lying down breathing room air.

• There is no reasonable open surgical or endovascular revascularization option as determined by the treating vascular specialist. Factors that may contribute to the determination of inoperability may include:

  • Anatomical considerations

    • No outflow targets
    • No appropriate conduit (i.e. vein for bypass)
    • Long segment occlusions or calcified lesions that predict poor outcome with endovascular approaches.

  • High risk medical conditions

    • Unstable cardiac disease.
    • Renal insufficiency

  • History of prior failed revascularization attempts

  • The patient's unsuitability must be confirmed by 2 qualified physicians.

    • The attending vascular surgeon will provide the primary assessment.
    • The confirmatory opinion must come from a fully licensed physician. (not a resident)
    • If anatomical considerations are invoked, the second physician may be a vascular surgeon, interventional radiologist, cardiologist, or vascular medicine specialist.
    • If medical co-morbidity is deemed the high risk aspect, then the confirmatory opinion may be obtained from an internist, family physician, cardiologist, vascular medicine, nephrologists, or vascular surgeon.

• Age >18 years and ability to understand the planned treatment

• Subject has read and signed the IRB approved Informed Consent form

• Patients for whom the following medication(s) is prescribed must have a one month stable baseline of appropriate/maximally tolerated therapy prior to enrollment: Plavix/asprin therapy, anticoagulation therapy, cholesterol lowering agent, and or blood pressure medication

• Hematocrit ≥ 28.0%, White Blood Cell count ≤ 14,000, Platelet count ≥ 50,000, Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg / dL, INR ≤ 1.6 unless on Coumadin, or PTT <1.5 x control (to avoid bleeding complications) Patients on Coumadin will be corrected prior to the procedure and must have an INR<1.6 at the time of randomization/surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Life expectancy <6 months due to concomitant illnesses
• History of bone marrow diseases (especially NHL, MDS) that prohibit transplantation
• Terminal renal failure with existing dependence on dialysis
• Known active malignancy or results outside of normal limits from the following tests: PAP, Chest X-ray, PSA, Mammogram, Hemoccult unless follow-up studies reveal patient to be cancer free..
• Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (HgbA1C>10%)
• Medical risk that precludes anesthesia (conscious sedation), or ASA Class 5
• Life-threatening complications of the ischemia necessitating immediate amputation
• Uncorrected iliac artery occlusion on index side
• No Doppler signal in the foot (ABI =0)
• Extensive necrosis of the index limb or other conditions that make amputation inevitable (Rutherford Category 6)
• Active clinical infection being treated by antibiotics within one week of enrollment
• Treatment with immunosuppressant drugs (including Prednisone > 5 mg per day).
• Female who is pregnant or nursing, or of child bearing potential and is not using a reliable birth control method.
• Underwent a major open cardiovascular surgical procedure (carotid endarterectomy, arterial aneurysm or bypass surgery, or coronary artery bypass surgery) or a myocardial infarction within the 3 months prior to randomization
• Cerebrovascular accident within 6 months prior to randomization.