[Systemic transplantation of autologous mesenchymal stem cells of the bone marrow in the treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis].

The study undertaken 3 years ago examined the effect of systemic transplantation of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the complex therapy of 27 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, including 15 patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis and 12 with extensive drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All the patients were bacteria-discharging persons with disseminated destructive processes in lung tissue, most (n=17) of them had chronic fibrocavernous tuberculosis. In all the patients, previous long specific antituberculous treatment was ineffective or inadequately effective. After systemic MSC transplantation, 16 patients were followed up for 1.5-2 years or more and the remaining 11 patients for at least 6 months. After MSC administration, a positive clinical effect was observed in all 27 cases; bacterial discharge stopped in 20 patients after 3-4 months; resolution of sustained lung tissue cavities further occurred in 11 patients. At present, a persistent remission of a tuberculous process may be stated in 9 of the 16 patients in whom MSCs were transplanted 1.5-2 years, significant positive bacteriological and morphological changes are observed in 6 patients. Thus, inclusion of transplantation of the autologous MSCs propagated in the culture into a course of antituberculous therapy may be a promising procedure for enhancing the efficiency of therapy in patients with resistant forms of pulmonary tuberculosis.