Mesenchymal stem cells therapy for chronic ischemic stroke-a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Regenerative Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Ischemic stroke is a major global health concern, with limited recovery options for chronic cases (3+ months post-stroke).
• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a widely studied regenerative therapy with potential for stroke rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the efficacy and safety of MSCs therapy in patients with chronic ischemic stroke.
• To identify limitations in current research and propose future directions for optimizing MSCs therapy.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Comprehensive literature search across major databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov).
• Inclusion of 4 studies meeting predefined criteria from an initial pool of 70.

Main Results:

• Observed positive outcomes regarding the efficacy and safety of MSCs therapy in chronic ischemic stroke patients.
• Identified limitations including small sample sizes, study heterogeneity, and lack of placebo controls.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence suggests potential benefits of MSCs therapy for chronic ischemic stroke, but requires stronger validation.
• Future research should focus on larger, standardized, and comparative trials to establish optimal MSCs treatment protocols.
• Further investigation into mechanisms, administration routes, and dosages is essential for advancing MSCs therapies.