Embryonic Cell Suspensions in Rheumatoid Arthritis

M.P.Demchuk, A.I .Smikodub, Cell Therapy Clinic of National Medical University and Embryonic Tissues Center EmCell, Kiev, Ukraine

Observed are 38 patients (32 women and 6 men) with confirmed Rheumatoid Arthritis, duration of the diseases varying from 3 to 15 years, serologically positive in 29 cases, serologically negative in 9 cases. In the mean, before the treatment, all the patients were reported to have III stage of RA, with stages II-III functional joint insufficiency, Rö – stages II-IV. Indications for the treatment were as follows: ineffectiveness of routine methods, considerably limited range of motions in joints with marked decrease of functional capabilities, trophic disturbances of muscular and skeletal systems, abarticular manifestations of the disease.

Administered were embryonic cell suspensions containing hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells obtained by cell sorting from liver, spleen and bone marrow of 4-8 weeks old embryonic cadavers. After the treatment, observed was gradual decrease of activity: after 15-30 days – stage II (12 and 10 points respectively), in 3 months – stage I (6 points); after 12 months of observation, pathological activity remained minimal and corresponded to 3 points.  In patients with serologically negative RA, it was possible to achieve complete remission without application of any medicinal agents.  In patients, with serologically positive RA, within only one month after the treatment, RF value decreased by 60-70%, and RA remained serologically negative for 10-12 months of observation.  Within a month after the treatment, noted was the tendency for decrease of total count of T-lymphocytes CD3+ and increase of T-suppressor CD8+ count.  In the next 2-3 months, helper-suppressor ratio was normalized and correlated with decreased activity of pathological process and lower levels of large and medium granular circulating immune complexes.