The Use of Umbilical Cord-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Seeded Fibrin Matrix in the Treatment of Stage IV Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Skin Lesions in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

ABSTRACT

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used systemically or locally in many chronic and nonhealing skin lesions in recent years. In this study, umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs)-seeded fibrin matrix was used as a wound dressing in pediatric patients with stage 4 acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD)-induced desquamated skin lesions. This is the first study in which the UC-MSCs-seeded fibrin matrix was used as a wound dressing in aGVHD. A total of 14 times the MSCs-seeded fibrin matrix were applied to 9 patients as a wound dressing. On the seventh day, epithelialization and clinical response were evaluated. According to the size of the skin defect min 1, max 6 pieces were applied at a time. After 48 to 72 hours, it was observed that all of the MSCs-seeded fibrin matrixes adhered to the skin and the crustation started in 6 (43%) applications, whereas liquefaction was detected under all of them in 7 (50%) applications. Complete response was obtained in 6 applications (43%), partial response in 1 (7%), and no response in 7 applications (50%). This study showed that the MSCs-seeded fibrin matrix can be used effectively and safely in the matrix in the local treatment of aGVHD-induced skin wounds in pediatric patients.