A clinical trial report of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in patients with spinal cord injury

Purpose: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disease which causes sensory loss, motor paralysis and autonomic difficulties which is usually treated with physiotherapy. Complete spinal cord injury with ASIA Grade A patients remains untreated and neglected in our country since long back. Here we describe an effective strategy for the treatment of complete spinal cord injury by autologous bone marrow derived stem cell. Material and Method: The study was conducted in the Neurosurgery department, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January, 2016 to January 2019. Total 22 Patients with spinal cord injury (ASIA Grade-A) were included in this study. Total 60 ml of autologous bone marrow was aspirated and processed to prepare 6-7 ml of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) which was transplanted at the site of cord injury. Bony alignment was done by decompression and stabilization. Post-surgical physiotherapy and regular follow up was given. Result: Surgical outcome was assessed by ASIA Grading. Among 22 patients, 10 patients (45.45%) improved by one grade, 7 patients (31.82%) improved by two grade, 2 patients (9.09%) improved by three grade, 3 patients (13.64%) did not show any improvement of any grade as because their follow-up period was less than 6 months. 19 patients (86.36%) noticed sensory, 16 patients (72.72%) noticed bladder improvement and 19 patients (86.36%) noticed bowel improvement to some extent. Conclusion: Stem cell therapy is safe and effective. Steady and focused progress in stem cell research will open the door for many disable patients in the country like Bangladesh. Bang. J Neurosurgery 2019; 9(1): 3-10

Download Full-text

NeuroRegen Scaffolds Combined with Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells for the Repair of Acute Complete Spinal Cord Injury: A 3-Year Clinical Study

Cell Transplantation ◽

10.1177/0963689720950637 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 096368972095063

Author(s):

Wugui Chen ◽

Ying Zhang ◽

Sizhen Yang ◽

Jing Sun ◽

Hao Qiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Autologous Bone Marrow ◽

Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Autologous Bone

Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains among the most challenging pathologies worldwide and has limited therapeutic possibilities and a very bleak prognosis. Biomaterials and stem cell transplantation are promising treatments for functional recovery in SCI. Seven patients with acute complete SCI diagnosed by a combination of methods were included in the study, and different lengths (2.0–6.0 cm) of necrotic spinal cord tissue were surgically cleaned under intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. Subsequently, NeuroRegen scaffolds loaded with autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) were implanted into the cleaned site. All patients participated in 6 months of rehabilitation and at least 3 years of clinical follow-up. No adverse symptoms associated with stem cell or functional scaffold implantation were observed during the 3-year follow-up period. Additionally, partial shallow sensory and autonomic nervous functional improvements were observed in some patients, but no motor function recovery was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested that NeuroRegen scaffold implantation supported injured spinal cord continuity after treatment. These findings indicate that implantation of NeuroRegen scaffolds combined with stem cells may serve as a safe and promising clinical treatment for patients with acute complete SCI. However, determining the therapeutic effects and exact application methods still requires further study.

Download Full-text