Clinical Trial of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transfusion in Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis

A Prospective Multicenter Clinical Study to Evaluate The Safety and Efficiency of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transfusion in Patients With Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis.

Decompensated liver cirrhosis is one of the life-threatening complication of chronic liver disease. Liver transplantation currently is the only effective method that can improve the survival of these patients. However, the severe shortage of donor livers, high cost, and potential serious complications have restricted the availability of liver transplantation.Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) has been generally shown to be safe and effective for liver diseases in some pre-clinical and clinical studies. This study aim to evaluate the safety and efficiency of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transfusion in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and explore the best protocol of MSC transfusion.

This study is a multicenter non randomized control study. Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis are going to be assigned to receive standard medical care plus UC-MSC treatment with two different protocol (group 1 and group 2) or standard medical care (control). Four times of MSC infusion (1.5x10E6 cells/kg body weight) via peripheral vein will be given to the group 1（once every 4 days), and two times of MSC infusion once every 7 days to the group 2. The primary outcome is survival rates in one year. Secondary outcomes are liver function, liver ascites and MELD score.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Clinically diagnosed as decompensated liver cirrhosis.
2. Hepatitis B/C Liver Cirrhosis After Viral Treatment, HBV/HCV Viral Loads Below Detection Level over six mouths, and the liver function remained below Child-pugh A grade or MELD score >10.
3. Other causes of cirrhosis, liver function compensatory incomplete.
4. In the past year, despite active medical treatment taken, the condition has continued to increase, at least because of cirrhosis complications such as ascites, spontaneous peritonitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy in hospital over one time.
5. Need to intermittently supplement albumin and apply diuretic therapy.
6. Albumin <35 g/L, total bilirubin <170 umol/L, prothrombin activity> 30%; (Prothrombin time <20 s, moderate or lower mass ascites, spontaneous peritonitis and hepatic encephalopathy (grade II or lower), Child-pugh score> 5 points).
7. There was no history of gastrointestinal hemorrhage within the last month and population with no high-risk portal hypertension and gastrointestinal bleeding was evaluated recently.
8. Unconditional acceptance of orthotopic liver transplantation.
9. Aged from 18 to 65 years.
10. Voluntarily signed informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. A malignant tumor with liver or other organs or a history of previous cancer.
2. Complications include gastrointestinal bleeding, spontaneous peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and Acute infection episodes.
3. Patients with severe heart, lung, kidney or blood system diseases and failure status.
4. Pregnant or lactating women.
5. Allergic constitution.
6. There is a history of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and failure to effectively quit. 7. Patients did not participate in other clinical trials within 4 weeks.

8. Any condition, investigator believe that patients should not participate in this study.