Abstract:Objective To determine and compare the short-term effect of human umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation on the decompensated cirrhosis via peripheral veins or heptic artery. Methods Forty patients with decompensated cirrhosis from 2010 to 2014 were randomly divided into peripheral-vein group and hepatic-artery group, and each group had 20 cases. They were injected with the same amount of human umbilical cord blood stem cells via peripheral veins or heptic artery on the basis of comprehensive medicine treatment. The changes in clinical symptoms of the patients were observed. The levels of serum bilirubin, ALT, AST, albumim, cholinesterase and prothrombin time were determined 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after cell transplantation. Results The clinical symptoms of the patients in both groups were all improved 2 weeks after cell transplantation. The levels of serum bilirubin, ALT and AST decreased; albumim and cholinesterase increased; and prothrombin time was shortened 4 weeks after transplantation; which were statistically dffferent from the preoperative levels. The changes between 8 weeks and 12 weeks after transplantation had no statistical dffferences in the peripheral-vein group. The serum bilirubin, ALT, AST and albumim were improved in atime-dependent manner, and most significantly 12 weeks after cell transplantation. The prothrombin time 8 weeks after transplantation had no statistical dffference from that 12 weeks after transplantation. Conclusions The transplantation of human umbilcal cord stem cells has short-term efficacy in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, and its efficacy in heptic-artery group is time-dependent.