Study question: Does autologous transplantation of menstrual blood-derived stromal cells (menSCs) regenerate endometrium to support pregnancy in patients with severe Asherman's syndrome (AS)?
Summary answer: Autologous menSCs transplantation significantly increases endometrial thickness (ET) for women with severe AS.
What is known already: AS is a major cause of secondary infertility in women. Cell transplantation has been tried in a few clinical cases with encouraging results.
Study design, size, duration: In this experimental, non-controlled and prospective 3-year clinical study involving seven patients with AS, autologous menSCs were isolated and cultured from menstrual blood of each patient within ~2 weeks and then transplanted back into their uterus. Endometrial growth and pregnancy were assessed after cell therapy.
Participants/materials, setting, method: Infertile women, aged 20-40 years, diagnosed with severe AS (Grade III-V) by hysteroscopy and with menstrual fluid were recruited at the Shengjing Hospital affiliated to China Medical University. Autologous menSCs transplantation was conducted followed by HRT. Endometrial thickness was monitored with frozen embryo transfer (FET) as needed.
Main results and the role of chance: We successfully cultured menSCs from seven patients and transferred the autologous cells back to their uterus. Our results showed that the ET was significantly (P = 0.0002) increased to 7 mm in five women, which ensured embryo implantation. Four patients underwent FET and two of them conceived successfully. One patient had spontaneous pregnancy after second menSCs transplantation.
Limitations, reasons for caution: Limited sample size, lack of rigorous controls or knowledge of underlying mechanism.
Wider implications of the findings: Autologous menSCs transplantation is a potential option for treating women with severe AS.
Study funding/competing interests: This study was supported by Liaoning Provincial Science and Technology Program. The sponsor and authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Trial registration number: Registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-ONB-15007464).
Keywords: Asherman's syndrome; autologous transplantation; endometrial thickness; infertility; menstrual blood-derived stromal cells.
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