Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Apr;57(7):783-791.
doi: 10.1111/apt.17347. Epub 2022 Dec 26.

Stromal vascular fraction with platelet-rich plasma injection during surgery is feasible and safe in treatment-refractory perianal fistulising Crohn's disease: A pilot study

Affiliations

Stromal vascular fraction with platelet-rich plasma injection during surgery is feasible and safe in treatment-refractory perianal fistulising Crohn's disease: A pilot study

Jeanine H C Arkenbosch et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2023 Apr.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: An unmet need remains for improved management in perianal fistulising Crohn's disease (pCD). Recently, local administration of adipose-derived cells has shown promising results.

Aims: To assess the safety and feasibility of injection of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in patients with pCD.

Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years with pCD were included and underwent fistula curettage, SVF with PRP injection, and closure of the internal opening. The primary endpoint was safety at 12 months. The secondary outcomes were complete radiological healing at 3 months (absence of fluid-containing tracts on MRI) and partial and complete clinical response at 3 and 12 months (closure of ≥1, respectively, all treated external opening(s)).

Results: Twenty-five patients were included (35 [IQR 25-40] years; 14 [56%] female); median CD duration 4 [IQR 2-8] years. Twenty-four (95%) patients had previously undergone fistula surgery. No adverse events were encountered at lipoharvesting sites. Two (8%) patients were readmitted to hospital and six (24%) underwent unplanned re-interventions. Post-operative MRI (n = 24) showed complete radiological healing in nine (37.5%) patients. Partial clinical response was present in 48% (12/25) at 3 months and in 68% (17/25) at 12 months, and complete clinical closure in five (20%) patients at 3 months and in 10 (40%) patients at 12 months.

Conclusion: Injection with autologous SVF with PRP is feasible and safe in patients with treatment-refractory pCD. Early complete radiological healing was observed in more than one-third of patients, and clinical response in two-thirds of patients at 12 months.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease; perianal fistula; platelet-rich plasma; stromal vascular fraction; surgery.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

References

REFERENCES

    1. Schwartz DA, Tagarro I, Carmen Díez M, Sandborn WJ. Prevalence of Fistulizing Crohn's disease in the United States: estimate from a systematic literature review attempt and population-based database analysis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2019;25(11):1773-9.
    1. Aguilera-Castro L, Ferre-Aracil C, Garcia-Garcia-de-Paredes A, Rodriguez-de-Santiago E, Lopez-Sanroman A. Management of complex perianal Crohn's disease. Ann Gastroenterol. 2017;30(1):33-44.
    1. Panes J, Reinisch W, Rupniewska E, Khan S, Forns J, Khalid JM, et al. Burden and outcomes for complex perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease: systematic review. World J Gastroenterol. 2018;24(42):4821-34.
    1. American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Practice Committee. American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement: perianal Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology. 2003;125(5):1503-7.
    1. Molendijk I, Nuij VJAA, van der Meulen-de Jong AE, Janneke van der Woude C. Disappointing durable remission rates in complex Crohn's disease fistula. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2014;20(11):2022-8.