Wharton's Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in a Patient with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Pilot Study

Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) have been introduced as a possible therapy in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We report a 16-year-old boy who was treated with WJ-MSCs in the course of HIE due to post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He received a long period of mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy with spastic quadriparesis. He underwent the intrathecal (1×10⁶/kg in 3 mL), intramuscular (1×10⁶/kg in 20 mL) and intravenous (1×10⁶/kg in 30 mL) administrations of WJ-MSCs for each application route (twice a month for 2 months). After stem cell infusions, progressive improvements were shown in his neurological examination, neuroradiological, and neurophysiological findings. To our best knowledge, this is a pioneer project to clinically study the neural repair effect of WJ-MSCs in a patient with HIE.

The Effect of Umbilical Cord-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in a Patient with Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report

Background

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability reason of childhood that occurs secondarily to non-progressive damage in the brain whose development is still ongoing.

Methods

6-year-old dystonic-spastic male CP patient received allogenic mesenchymal stem cells treatment four times as 1×10⁶/kg in intrathecal and intravenous administration of Umbilical Cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) ways. Before and after the treatment, the patient was followed-up with FIM (Functional Independent Measurement), GMFCS (Gross Motor Function Classification System 88), Tardieu Scale, TCMS (Trunk Control Measurement Scale), MACS (Manual Ability Classification Scale), CFSS (Communication Function Classification System) for 18 months and received intensive rehabilitation.

Results

Improvements were observed especially in functional scales except for the Tardieu Scale, and no adverse effects were detected aside from a slight pain in the back.

Conclusion

Wider future case studies on UC-MSCs will enable us to assess the efficacy of UC-MSCs which have positive impacts especially on functional scales.