Ten-Year Outcomes after Purified CD34+ Cells Transplantation in Patients with Angiitis-induced Critical Limb Ischemia

Background: Angiitis-induced critical limb ischemia (AICLI), which is defined as critical limb ischemia (CLI) caused by thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) or other arteritis-related autoimmunological diseases. In the current study, we aimed to report the 10-year outcomes of AICLI patients who underwent purified CD34 + cells (PCCs) transplantation. Methods AICLI patients who underwent PCCs transplantation at our center from May 2009 to September 2011 were retrospectively enrolled. The main outcome was major amputation-free survival (MAFS); other outcomes included Rutherford classification, pain-free walking time (PFWT), Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFPS), recurrence, new lesions, quality of life (QoL) and patients’ posttransplantation work conditions. Results Twenty-four patients were enrolled with a mean age of 41.5 ± 7.8 years. Three underwent major amputation during the follow-up, and the 10-year MAFS was 87.5%. Eight were observed to have recurrence, and 2 had new lesions; the 10-year recurrence-free rate was 66.1%. All patients were unable to work at admission, 17 (70.8%) patients were reemployed after transplantation. Conclusion The current study further demonstrated satisfactory long-term efficacy of PCCs transplantation, with a 10-year MAFS of 87.5%. However, the 10-year recurrence-free rate of 66.1% suggested that strict and regular long-term follow-up is necessary.