Case report on the clinical results of a combined cellular therapy for chronic spinal cord injured patients

• Published in: Spinal cord 2009-06, Vol.47 (6), p.499-503
• Main Authors: Moviglia, G A, Varela, G, Brizuela, J A, Moviglia Brandolino, M T, Farina, P, Etchegaray, G, Piccone, S, Hirsch, J, Martinez, G, Marino, S, Deffain, S, Coria, N, Gonzáles, A, Sztanko, M, Salas-Zamora, P, Previgliano, I, Aingel, V, Farias, J, Gaeta, C A, Saslavsky, J, Blasseti, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anatomy; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; case-report; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy - methods; Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord; Chronic Disease; Female; Human Physiology; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Medical sciences; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurochemistry; Neurology; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; Recovery of Function; Spinal Cord Injuries - pathology; Spinal Cord Injuries - surgery; Spinal Cord Injuries - therapy; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sc.2008.164

Objectives: With the intention to ameliorate the clinical condition of patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), a program that combines three cell therapies and an appropriate neurorehabilitation program were used to recreate and enhance the natural conditions of SCI repair. Methods: Vascularization recovery is approached by selective artery infusion of BMMNCs (bone marrow mononuclear cells) to the disrupted area. Eighteen days later, with the aim to restore the specific inflammatory activity, an i.v. infusion of spinal cord specific ETCs (effector T cells) is carried out. With the intention of supplying cellular components for the process of repair, an infusion of autologous neural stem cells (NSCs) through selective feeding artery infusion is carried out, followed by an appropriate neurorehabilitation program. Results: A total of eight ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) A patients (five with jeopardized brachial plexus and three without) received the treatment. No severe adverse events was observed in any of the receptor patients: five patients evolved from ASIA A to ASIA D and regained the ability to stand up and, with varying effectiveness, to walk; two patients remained in the same condition, but exhibited motor and sensitive improvements; and one patient could not be evaluated. Conclusions: These reports suggest that the biological characteristics of acute SCI may be recreated in a comprehensive, safe and effective manner.