Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Recently, stem cell therapy focuses on augmenting neovascularisation and ameliorating collateraI circulation. And it will be a new limbsalving option for critical limb ischemia patients. However, there are few reviews on research progress and development direction.
OBJECTIVE: To present a survey of recent publication concerning about stem cell therapy in patients with critical limb ischemia.
METHODS: PubMed database and CNKI database were retrieved for publications of critical limb ischemia and stem cell therapy published from 2010-10 to 2011-01. The keywords were “limb ischemia, stem cells transplantation, neovascularisation” in Chinese and “peripheral arterial disease, stem cells transplantation, neovascularzation” in English. Repetitive studies were excluded. A total of 68 literatures were primarily obtained, while 24 were selected for summarization according to inclusion criteria.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Critical limb ischemia is the end stage of peripheral arterial disease, with a deep impact on patient's quality of life. In some patients, there are no revascularizing treatment options. Stem cell therapy focusing on augmenting neovascularisation and ameliorating collateraI circulation has raised much interest in the past decade. It is a new limbsalving option for critical limb ischemia patients. However, the underlying mechanisms of neovascularization are still incompletely understood. Both fundamental research as well as large randomized trials are needed for further optimisation of this treatment option, and will hopefully lead to much more benefits for more critical limb ischemia patients in the near future.