Intravenous autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells for ischemic stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cellular Therapy

Background:

• Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability.
• Cellular therapies, particularly using mononuclear cells (MNCs) from bone marrow, show promise in preclinical stroke models.
• Investigating the safety and feasibility of autologous MNC infusion in human stroke patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feasibility and safety of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell (MNC) infusion in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
• To evaluate the preliminary efficacy of this cellular therapy in improving neurological outcomes.

Main Methods:

• An open-label prospective study involving 10 acute ischemic stroke patients.
• Bone marrow harvest from the iliac crest, followed by intravenous infusion of autologous MNCs within 24-72 hours post-stroke.
• Patients were monitored for 6 months, assessing safety and neurological outcomes using the NIH Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale.

Main Results:

• Bone marrow harvest and MNC infusion were successfully completed in all participants.
• No significant adverse events directly related to the harvest or infusion procedure were observed.
• Patients demonstrated significant improvements in neurological function, with a median NIH Stroke Scale score decreasing from 13 to 3 at 6 months.
• Seven out of ten patients achieved a Barthel Index score of ≥90, indicating good functional recovery.

Conclusions:

• Autologous bone marrow-derived MNC infusion is a safe and feasible therapeutic approach for acute ischemic stroke.
• The procedure showed promising results in improving functional outcomes and reducing neurological deficits in stroke patients.
• Further large-scale clinical trials are warranted to confirm the efficacy of this cellular therapy for stroke treatment.