Clinical Evaluation of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation After Angioplasty for Diabetic Foot

Aims: The multilineage differentiation potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) holds therapeutic promise for non-healing ulcers and tissue regeneration. The present study evaluated the effects of HUCMSC transplantation after angioplasty for treatment of diabetic foot. Methods: Included in the study were 53 patients (72 limbs) with severe symptoms of Fontaine II-IV diabetic foot accompanied by varying degrees of lower extremity arterial disease. The patients were randomly apportioned to a control group (25 patients; 38 limbs) or an experimental group (28 patients; 34 limbs). Patients of both groups received interventional treatment with angioplasty; those in the experimental group also received HUCMSCs by endovascular infusion and injection around the foot ulcer. Results: Within the 3-month follow-up, relative to patients in the control group, those in the experimental group experienced significantly greater and more stable improvements in skin temperature, ankle-brachial pressure index, transcutaneous oxygen tension, and claudication distance. Notably, 3 months after treatment a significant increase in neovessels, accompanied by complete or gradual ulcer healing, was shown in the experimental group. In addition, no serious complications or adverse reactions were associated with the treatment. Conclusion: Therefore, our results indicate that HUCMSC transplantation after angioplasty is a safe and effective clinical therapy for severe diabetic foot.