Abstract

GOICOECHEA-DIAZ, Pedro et al. Cell therapy for the treatment of lower limb lymphedema. Case report. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter [online]. 2010, vol.26, n.4, pp.352-358. ISSN 0864-0289.

Although lymphedema is a common disabling disease causing significant morbidity for affected patients, treatment for this condition remains limited and largely ineffective. Some reported data suggest that some bone-marrow derived cells may play a role in lymphangiogenesis. It appears that blood vessels and lymphatic vessels might use the same population of cells for vasculogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Therefore, adult stem cell therapy could be a new useful strategy for the treatment of lymphedema. We report a resolution of a severe lower limb bilateral lymphedema after implantation of autologous adult stem cells derived from bone marrow. As far as we know, this is the first reported case with chronic lower limb lymphedema treated successfully with autologous cell therapy. This procedure is a low-cost, relatively simple and easy to perform option that opens new ways for the treatment of lymphedema.

Keywords : Stem cell; lymphedema; bone-marrow derived cells; lymphangiogenesis.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )