Effective remission of an elderly patient with refractory atopic dermatitis and foot ulcers following infusion with human umbilical cord‑derived mesenchymal stem cells: A case report

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are excellent sources for use in the treatment of refractory and relapsing disorders mainly due to their hematopoietic‑supporting and immunoregulatory capacities. However, their safety and effectiveness for the treatment of refractory atopic dermatitis (AD) and multiple complications in elder patients are largely unknown. Therewith, the present study describes the case of a 65‑year‑old female patient with AD accompanied by foot ulcers and refractory urinary tract infection. Briefly, 5x10⁷ human umbilical cord‑derived MSCs (hUC‑MSCs) were intravenously infused into the body of the patient after obtaining the approval of the relevant ethics committee and the consent of the patient. The clinical and biochemical outcomes, including general symptoms, hemogram and blood constituents, medical images, together with tumour biomarkers, were observed and recorded. By conducting only one single intravenous infusion of hUC‑MSCs, the AD‑associated pathophysiological manifestations of the elderly patient, including an unbearable itch, diffuse erythema and eczema, and in particular, inflammatory foot ulcers and refractory urinary infection were completely attenuated. Simultaneously, the outcomes of the accompanied complications were effectively improved, whereas no recrudesce or adverse reactions were observed in the 14‑month follow‑up visit. The findings of the present study suggested that the administration of hUC‑MSCs was safe and effective for restricting the symptoms and of the patient preventing associated complications. Thus, the use of hUC‑MSCs may prove to be a promising treatment option for AD and foot ulcer management, even for elderly patients with multiple underlying conditions or complications.