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.
Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.