Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in patients with Crohn’s disease — 5 year follow-up

We investigated the efficacy of combination therapy using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and Infliximab (IFX) to achieve “deep remission” in patients with luminal Crohn disease (CD). Our study included 72 patients (age 19–62 years) (Ме = 29) with luminal CD. Patients in the 1st group (n = 21) received standard 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and glucocorticosteroid therapy in combination with MSC. Patients in the 2nd group (n = 32) were prescribed anti-cytokine therapy IFX. Patients in the 3rd group (n = 19) received MSC and IFX. Clinical and immunobiological (C-reactive protein-CRP and faecal calprotectin-FCP) showed a more significant decrease of local and systemic inflammation activity in the 3rd group of patients. During a 5-year follow-up we observed longer duration of remission in patients who received MSC and IFX compared to the 1st (р = 0,04) and 2nd groups of patients (р = 0.038). Combination therapy of bone marrow-derived MSC and IFL provides “deep remission” in patients with luminal CD and has higher prognostic value for duration of CD remission period.