Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Diabetic Kidney Disease-A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial

Diabetes had global prevalence of 9% in 2014 and is increasing alarmingly, affecting approximately 387 million people worldwide. It is strongly linked to complications, like chronic kidney failure, blindness and neurdegeneration. From 1999-2006, prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 1-2 was 11.5%, and stage 3-4 was 58%, while its prevalence in Pakistan is 12.5%. CKD is a pathophysiological process with multiple etiologies, eventually resulting in irreversible nephron damage and leading to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), rendering the patient permanently dependent on Renal Replacement. In Pakistan, the prevalence of diabetic ESRD is 22%. Only supportive management is offered, resulting in either dialysis dependency or transplant. High CKD prevalence, renal replacement therapy and associated morbidity-mortality demands more effective and easier treatment option. We propose Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) therapy for reversing the chronic kidney damage caused by type2 diabetes.