Embryonic Cell Suspensions in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Smikodub A.I., Demchyuk M.P.

A group of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has been under observation since 1995.   38 patients (32 women and 6 men) with confirmed (in accordance with diagnostic criteria) Rheumatoid Arthritis were treated with embryonic cell suspensions.  Duration of RA varied from 3 to 15 years.  In the mean, before the treatment, all the patients were reported to have III stage of RA, with stages II-III functional joint deficiency, R? – 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. 

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, cell count starting from 0,1x10⁸/ml, CD34 count – 1-20x10⁶/ml.

Before embryonic stem cell transplantation (ESCT), activity of pathological process corresponded to stage III.  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 on the general scale. 

In patients with serologically negative RA (9 cases), it was possible to achieve complete remission without application of any medicinal agents.  In patients, with serologically positive RA, within a month after the treatment, RF value decreased by 65,6%, and RA remained serologically negative for all the 12 months of observation. 

Long-term observation allowed for educing of ESCT effect on RA course: the disease becomes less aggressive, pathological process – less active; clinically, reported are increase of functional capabilities, improved quality of life; no evidence of progression is shown on X-rays.