Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell transplantation in spinal cord injury patients by lumbar puncture

This study was conducted to assess the safety and feasibility of intrathecal transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells for the treatment of patients with spinal cord injury.

Ten patients were included in the study. Approximately 120 ml of bone marrow aspirate was obtained from bilateral iliac bone of patients with spinal cord injury. Isolation of mononuclear cells was performed using Ficoll density-gradient centrifugation. Bone marrow mononuclear cells were transplanted into cerebrospinal fluid by lumbar puncture. Functional tests were performed prior to the cell transplantation and six months after cell transplantation. The patients were carefully observed for up to six months.

In 5 patients with AIS A prior to cell transplantation, 1 patient converted to AIS B six months after cell transplantation. In 5 patients with AIS B, 1 patient converted to AIS D and 2 patients to AIS C. MRI did not show any complication. Two patients showed slight anemia after aspiration of bone-marrow cells, which returned to normal level within a several weeks.

The results of this study suggest that this method may be safe and feasible.