Adipose tissue-derived stem cells: a new approach to the treatment of Crohn's disease-associated perianal fistulae

Abstract

Crohn's disease has an ever-increasing prevalence and incidence, with about 20% of patients developing perianal fistula with significant impact on their quality of life. Despite the medical and surgical treatments currently used, Crohn's-related fistula treatment continues to pose a challenge due to the low rates of efficacy associated with high recurrence rates. Recent clinical trials have shown promising results regarding safety and efficacy of local treatment of this condition with the use of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Besides being pluripotent and poorly immunogenic, they have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, which combined, may accelerate healing. Our main objective is to summarize the clinical trials we found, highlighting the efficacy rates of this therapy and the main limitations we found in the analysis of the results. We conclude that, in perianal fistulas refractory to conventional therapies, the treatment with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal cells is safe with promising results that may change the current paradigm of Crohn's related fistula treatment.