Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in neurological disorders: A clinical study

We investigated the intrathecally administrated unbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) by lumbar puncture and assessed the technical difficulties and effects in various neurological conditions. One hundred patients underwent subarachnoid placement of UC-MSCs between December 2006 and May 2010 in the Affiliated Hospital of Medicine. Technical difficulties in patients in the form of localization of subarachnoid space, number of attempts, and post-procedural complications were evaluated. Functional evaluation was done using Hauser Ambulation Index (HAI) by the stem cell transplant team on a regular basis. All patients were followed-up for more than 1 yr after the treatment. Clinical symptoms, related biochemical index and photographic examinations were observed regularly. We encountered technical difficulties in 31 patients (31%) in the form of general anesthesia supplementation and difficulty localizing the lumbar space. Side effects (headache, low-grade fever, low back pain and lower limb pain) were observed in 22 (22%) patients, which were treated with symptomatic therapy within 48 h. One year after the treatment, functional indices improved in 47 patients (47%): 12 patients with spinal cord injury, 11 patients with cerebral palsy, 9 patients with post-traumatic brain syndrome, 9 patients with post-brain infarction syndrome, 3 patients with spinocerebellar ataxias, and 3 patients with motor neuron disease. In conclusion, intrathecal administration of UC-MSCs is a safe and effective way to treat neurological disorders. Our encouraging results of intrathecal administration of UC-MSCs indicate the potential of restoration of lost tissue and improvement of function in patients with profound neurological defects and inefficient conventional cure. These data support expanded double-blind, placebo-controlled studies for this treatment modality.