Recombinant Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor Facilitates Motor Recovery and Reduces Myelomalacia in Traumatic American...

This study aims to evaluate the potential benefits of treating spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), a potent neurotrophic factor that preserves neuronal survival. The study involved 12 tetraplegic patients with American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) Grade A SCI who were randomly assigned to receive either a recombinant human aFGF or a placebo every 4 weeks for three doses. Participants underwent comprehensive evaluations of medical, neurological, and functional parameters at baseline and every 4 weeks after the first dose until the 48th week. The first dose was administered directly to the injury site during surgery within 6 weeks of the SCI, while the subsequent two doses were administered via lumbar puncture with a 4-week interval. The results revealed promising beneficial effects of aFGF on AIS Grade A SCI patients. The study report highlights aFGF's potential to expedite motor recovery in complete SCI patients and significantly increase the probability of a 10-point improvement when compared to the placebo group (odds ratio = 6.06, p = 0.0004). Furthermore, aFGF treatment exhibited a significant reduction (p < 0.01) in the incidence or exacerbation rate of myelomalacia, a known secondary complication following SCIs.