Stem Cell Revascularization in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia

Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common, debilitating and potentially life-threatening illness. Obstructive PAD can progress to limb-threatening ischemia with rest pain, ulcers, and gangrene requiring amputation unless blood flow to the ischemic limb can be restored. Surgical revascularization options are often limited by arteries that are too small to bypass. Patient co-morbidities also make surgical options risky. Percutaneous revascularization techniques are similarly limited by small distal artery caliber, technical difficulty and high restenosis rates. Amputation may be the only treatment option for non-healing ulcers or gangrene. Direct intramuscular injection of adult stem cells may result in improved lower extremity perfusion, symptomatic improvement and limb salvage in patients with critical limb ischemia not optimal for conventional revascularization. This study aims to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of this therapeutic approach.