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Stem cell therapy improves skin lesions and quality of life in calciphylaxis patients, but shows limited impact on associated metastatic pulmonary calcification.
In a small study involving 3 people suffering from calciphylaxis and metastatic pulmonary calcification (MPC), Shijiu Lu and other researchers observed encouraging improvements in skin lesions following treatment with human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). Calciphylaxis, also referred to as calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), is a rare and life-threatening ailment marked by ischemic skin necrosis, primarily affecting those with end-stage kidney disease. In some cases, it coexists with MPC—an often asymptomatic but potentially fatal buildup of calcium in lung tissues.
Volunteers were examined via multiple tools, including the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, histological analysis, the modified Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool for CUA (BWAT-CUA), and wound-related quality of life questionnaire (Wound-QoL). Lung involvement was determined through high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), 99ᵐTc-methylene diphosphonate (99ᵐTc-MDP) bone scans, and—for the first time in this patient population—99ᵐTc-labeled macroaggregated albumin (99ᵐTc-MAA) pulmonary perfusion imaging.
While all 3 patients illustrated healing of skin wounds and symptom relief after hAMSC therapy, the progression of MPC varied. Patient 1 had asymptomatic lung calcification prior to developing calciphylaxis but later presented with chest pain and breathlessness despite 15 months of stem cell treatment. Imaging revealed worsening pulmonary calcification and severely impaired perfusion, and the patient ultimately died of respiratory failure. Patient 2 also had MPC at diagnosis and showed temporary improvement in skin symptoms, but no change in lung imaging; the patient died 6 months after stopping therapy.
Patient 3, who continued hAMSC treatment, showed stable lung findings with no significant worsening. These results highlight the regenerative potential of hAMSCs for skin-related complications of calciphylaxis but underline the requisition for further research into their role in managing MPC. The study emphasizes early, personalized, and noninvasive diagnosis as essential in tackling this complex and fatal ailment.
Renal failure
Treatment effects of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells for skin lesions and metastatic pulmonary calcification in calciphylaxis patients – case series and literature review
Shijiu Lu et al.
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