Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation for Systemic Sclerosis (SSc)

Inclusion Criteria: * All patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (former American Rheumatism Association - ARA) for SSc * Rapidly progressive disease \<2 years duration with a modified Rodnan skin score(mRSS) above 20, plus ESR \>25 mm/first h and/or Hb \<11 g/dL, not explained by other causes than active SSc * lung involvement: with a vital capacity (VC) or DLCO below 70% predicted, or a mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) above 40 mmHg (measured by echocardiography) * digestive tract involvement: with serum albumin ,25 g/L or weight loss exceeding 10% body weight in the preceding year * kidney involvement: with 24-h urinary protein above 0.5 g or serum creatinine above 120 mmol/L Exclusion Criteria: * Uncontrolled arrhythmia, echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \<50% or mean PAP \>50 mmHg, DLCO\<45% of predicted * Creatinine clearance \<20 ml/min * Platelets\<80 000/mm3, haemorrhagic cystitis * (4) HIV or HTLV1 seropositivity, malignancy, pregnancy, a cardiac or vascular prosthesis, and no vascular access