Open AccessIncreasing The Therapeutic Potential Of Stem Cell Therapies For Critical Limb Ischemia
Author(s) -
Omaida C. Velázquez
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
hsoa journal of stem cells research, development and therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2381-2060
DOI - 10.24966/srdt-2060/100024
Subject(s) - medicine , critical limb ischemia , stem cell therapy , stem cell , amputation , gangrene , ischemia , disease , limb ischemia , therapeutic effect , surgery , cell therapy , therapeutic angiogenesis , arterial disease , vascular disease , transplantation , angiogenesis , neovascularization , biology , genetics
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a progressive, atherosclerotic disease that at its end stage, Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI), results in severely diminished limb perfusion and causes leg pain at rest, non-healing ulcers, and tissue gangrene. Many patients with CLI fail current medical and surgical therapies and thus are deemed "no option" and require limb amputation. Novel therapies to attempt limb salvage in these "no option" patients are needed. Stem cell therapy is one therapeutic angiogenic avenue that has been tested over the last 20 years. To date, clinical trials have shown promise but with only modest improvement and none demonstrated a significant decrease in amputation rates in those treated with stem cell therapy. Thus, recent investigations into improving stem cell therapy have been the focus of our laboratory and many others. This review aims to describe recent advances in increasing the therapeutic potential of stem cell therapies for CLI.