Tests donor fat-derived stem cells in people with severe systemic sclerosis

Who can take part

• Provide signed and dated informed consent
• Health insurance
• Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study
• Male or female, aged ≥ 18 years and ≤ 80 years of age
• SSc patients according to American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) 2013 classification criteria for SSc
• Severe disease with either: a) disease duration of 2 years or less with a modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) ≥ 20 and (abnormal CRP > 5 mg/l and/or hemoglobin < 11 g/dL), or b) mRSS ≥ 15 without any restriction as to disease duration plus at least one major organ involvement as defined by: (1) respiratory involvement consisting of lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and/or forced vital capacity (FVC) < 80% predicted and evidence of interstitial lung disease (chest X-ray and/or high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan) and/or moderate Pulmonary hypertension with baseline resting systolic pulmonary arterial pressures > 35 mmHg and below 50 mmHg by cardiac echocardiography, or mean pulmonary artery pressure > 20 mmHg and < 40 mm Hg on right heart catheterization; (2) renal involvement consisting of past renal crisis, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and/or renal insufficiency not explained by other causes than SSc; (3) cardiac involvement consisting of reversible congestive heart failure, atrial or ventricular rhythm disturbances such as recurrent episodes of atrial fibrillation or flutter, recurrent atrial paroxysmal tachycardia, 2nd or 3rd degree AV-block, mild to moderate pericardial effusion and/or presence of MRI involvement (Increased T1 or T2 mapping, late gadolinium enhancement, septal D sign) . All causes of organ involvement should be attributed to SSc
• Contraindication, inadequate response or unwillingness to undergo AHSCT (determined by patient and physician judgement)
• Contraindication, inadequate response or unwillingness or adverse events necessitating discontinuation of conventional immunosuppressive therapy, except for MMF and methotrexate)
• Women of reproductive potential must use highly effective contraception; Men of reproductive potential must use condoms

Who cannot take part

• Neoplasms of less than 5 years, except for basal cell or in situ cervix carcinoma or concurrent myelodysplasia,
• Severe psychiatric disorder
• Active or chronic Hepatitis (ASAT, ALAT > 3 upper limit normal)
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Uncontrolled acute or chronic infection
• HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection
• Bone marrow insufficiency, defined as neutropenia < 1 x 109/L, thrombopenia < 50 x 109/L, anemia < 8 g/dL, lymphopenia < 0,5 x 109/L
• Life-threatening end-organ damage defined as: DLCO (corrected for hemoglobin) < 30% predicted; Left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% by cardiac echocardiography; Pulmonary hypertension with baseline resting systolic pulmonary arterial pressures > 50 mmHg by cardiac echocardiography, or mean pulmonary artery pressure > 40 mmHg on right heart catheterization; glomerular filtration rate < 30mL/min
• Age < 18 years or > 80 years
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Patient included in another interventional clinical trial
• Patient under tutelle
• Pregnancy or unwillingness to use adequate contraception
• BMI < 16.5 kg/m2