Abstract：
Previously, we demonstrated the therapeutic effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (hUC-MSCs) in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. In this 3-month follow-up study, we examined discharged patients who had received hUC-MSC therapy to assess the safety of this therapy and the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of these patients. The follow-up cohort consisted of 28 discharged severe COVID-19 patients who received either the standard treatment (the control group) or the standard treatment plus hUC-MSC therapy. We examined liver function, kidney function, pulmonary function, coagulation, tumor markers, and vision. We also conducted electrocardiography (ECG) analysis, let the patients answer the St. George\'s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and performed computed tomography (CT) imaging for assessing the lung changes. No obvious adverse effects were observed in the hUC-MSC group after 3 months. Measurements of blood routine index, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin, liver and kidney function, coagulation, ECG, tumor markers, and vision were almost within the normal ranges in both the treatment and control groups. Forced expiratory volumes in 1 s (FEV1) (% of predicted) were 71.88% ± 8.46% and 59.45% ± 27.45% in the hUC-MSC and control groups (P < 0.01), respectively, and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratios were 79.95% ± 8.00% and 58.97% ± 19.16% in the hUC-MSC and control groups, respectively (P < 0.05). SGRQ scores were lower in the hUC-MSC group than in the control group (15.25 ± 3.69 vs. 31.9 ± 8.78, P < 0.05). The rate of wheezing in the hUC-MSC group was also significantly lower than that in the control group (37.5% vs. 75%, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in CT scores between the two groups (0.60 ± 0.88 vs. 1.00 ± 1.31, P = 0.917). Overall, the intravenous transplantation of hUC-MSCs accelerated partial pulmonary function recovery and improved HRQL, indicating relative safety and preliminary efficacy of this treatment for patients with severe COVID-19.
摘要：
以前,我们证明了人脐带间充质基质细胞(hUC-MSCs)在严重冠状病毒病2019(COVID-19)患者中的治疗效果.在这项为期3个月的随访研究中，我们检查了接受hUC-MSC治疗的出院患者,以评估该治疗的安全性和这些患者的健康相关生活质量(HRQL).随访队列由28名出院的重症COVID-19患者组成，他们接受标准治疗（对照组）或标准治疗加hUC-MSC治疗。我们检查了肝功能,肾功能,肺功能,凝血,肿瘤标志物,和视觉。我们还进行了心电图（ECG）分析，让患者回答圣乔治呼吸问卷(SGRQ)，并进行计算机断层扫描（CT）成像以评估肺部变化。3个月后hUC-MSC组无明显不良反应。血常规指标的测定,C反应蛋白和降钙素原,肝肾功能,凝血,心电图,肿瘤标志物,治疗组和对照组的视力几乎在正常范围内。hUC-MSC和对照组的1s用力呼气量（FEV1）（预测的％）分别为71.88％±8.46％和59.45％±27.45％（P<0.01），分别,在hUC-MSC组和对照组中，FEV1/强迫肺活量（FEV1/FVC）比率分别为79.95％±8.00％和58.97％±19.16％，分别为(P<0.05)。hUC-MSC组SGRQ评分低于对照组（15.25±3.69vs.31.9±8.78,P<0.05)。hUC-MSC组的喘息发生率也明显低于对照组（37.5％vs.75%,P<0.05)。两组CT评分无显著差异(0.60±0.88vs.1.00±1.31,P=0.917)。总的来说,静脉移植hUC-MSCs加速部分肺功能恢复,改善HRQL,表明这种治疗对重症COVID-19患者的相对安全性和初步疗效。
