Stem cell therapy for COVID-19 treatment: an umbrella review.

Ali Hazazi, Khadija A Alsultan, Thuria Y Al Saffar, Mona J Al Marshood, Nisreen A Al-Zaki, Nehad J Al Faraj, Majid S Al-Thaqafy, Maha Afri Alanazi, Chaozhi Tang, R P Parameswari, Quazi Syed Zahiruddin, Prakasini Satapathy, Lakshmi Thangavelu, Ali A Rabaan, Saad Alhumaid, Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib, Sarvesh Rustagi, Arkadiusz Dziedzic, Shamsah H Al-Ahmed, Jawaher Alotaibi

Journal: International journal of surgery (London, England) 2024;110(10):6402-6417

PMID: 38967503

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has presented significant obstacles to healthcare. Stem cell therapy, particularly mesenchymal stem cells, has emerged as a potential treatment modality due to its immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. This umbrella review aims to synthesize current evidence from systematic reviews on the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy in COVID-19 treatment.

METHODS

A thorough literature search was performed across Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science from December 2019 to February 2024. Systematic reviews focusing on the use of stem cell therapy for COVID-19 were included. Evidence was synthesized by meta-analysis using R software (V 4.3) for each outcome. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

A total of 24 systematic reviews were included. Stem cell therapy was associated with reduced mortality [risk ratio (RR) 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60-0.86]; shorter hospital stays (mean difference -4.00 days, 95% CI: -4.68 to -3.32), and decreased need for invasive ventilation (RR 0.521, 95% CI: 0.320-0.847). Symptom remission rates improved (RR 1.151, 95% CI: 0.998-1.330), and a reduction in C-reactive protein levels was noted (standardized mean difference -1.198, 95% CI: -2.591 to 0.195), albeit with high heterogeneity. For adverse events, no significant differences were found between stem cell therapy and standard care (RR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.607-1.265). The certainty of evidence ranged from low to moderate.

CONCLUSION

Stem cell therapy demonstrates a potential benefit in treating COVID-19, particularly in reducing mortality and hospital stay duration. Despite these promising findings, the evidence is varied, and future large-scale randomized trials are essential to confirm the efficacy and optimize the therapeutic protocols for stem cell therapy in the management of the disease. The safety profile is encouraging, with no significant increase in adverse events, suggesting a viable avenue for treatment expansion.

Address: College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China.; Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.; Division of Evidence Synthesis, Global Consortium of Public Health and Research, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education.; School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.; Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai.; Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai.; Medical Laboratories Techniques Department, AL-Mustaqbal University, Hillah, Babil, Iraq.; South Asia Infant Feeding Research Network (SAIFRN), Division of Evidence Synthesis, Global Consortium of Public Health and Research, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education, Wardha.; School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.; Research Center, Prince Sultan Malitary Medical City, Riyadh.; Infection Prevention and Control Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs.; Epidemiology and Public Health, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, National Guard Health Affairs.; College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah.; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Security Forces Hospital Program, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.; College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.; Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh.; Specialty Pediatric Medicine, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif.; College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.; Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.; Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000001786