Treatment of Cerebral Palsy with Stem Cells: A Report of 17 Cases

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non-progressive neurological disorder causing motor and cognitive disabilities.
• Current treatments for CP focus on supportive care, with no established cures or restorative therapies.
• CP arises from diverse causes, including prenatal hypoxia, genetic factors, and infections, leading to heterogeneous patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intrathecal administration of Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells (BMMC) in children with Cerebral Palsy.
• To assess the impact of BMMC therapy on motor function and cognitive abilities in CP patients.

Main Methods:

• Seventeen sequential patients diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) underwent intrathecal administration of Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells (BMMC).
• Patient outcomes were assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) to evaluate motor function.
• Safety was monitored through the post-injection course, and cognitive improvements were also noted.

Main Results:

• The intrathecal BMMC administration procedure was well-tolerated, with an uneventful post-injection course in all patients.
• 73% of evaluable patients demonstrated a good response to the treatment, as measured by the GMFCS.
• An average improvement of 1.3 GMFCS levels was observed, alongside notable cognitive enhancements.

Conclusions:

• Intrathecal BMMC therapy presents a potentially effective and safe treatment option for children with Cerebral Palsy.
• BMMC treatment demonstrated significant improvements in motor function and cognitive abilities, offering a new therapeutic avenue for CP.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and optimize BMMC therapy protocols for CP management.