Liver cirrhosis (LC) is the end stage of chronic liver diseases. Liver transplantation is one of the only effective therapies available to such patients.

However, lack of donors, surgical complications, rejection, and high costs are it's serious problems. The potential for stem cells in bone marrow (BM) to differentiate into hepatocytes was recently confirmed. ln this study we evaluated safety and feasibility of autologous bone marrow mononuclear (BM -MNC) and enriched CD133+ hematopoietic stem cell trans­plantation through the portal vein in patients with decompensate cirrhosis.

Seven patients with decompensated cirrhosis were included in two groups (CD133 or BM-MNC). Approximately 200 ml of the bone marrow of the patients was aspirated, and CD133+ or BM-MNC cells were selected and the cells were slowly infused through the portal vein under sonography monitoring. All patients were monitored for side effects, toxicities, and changes in the clinical, hematological, and biochemical parameters. All patients tolerated the procedure well, and there "were no treatment-related side effects or toxicities observed. Totally, all patients showed marginal improvements in serum albumin level and MELD score, but not in each group. Other markers did not improve significantly. However, we could not find any difference between CD133 and BM-MNC groups. This early experience with portal vein application of CD133+ or BM-MNC could suggest this novel therapeutic approach for cirrhotic patients.