Intrathecal administration of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells for spinal cord injury: Safety and efficacy of the 100/3 guideline

Abstract

Background aims: Cell therapy with autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) is beginning, and the search for its better clinical application is an urgent need.

Methods: We present a phase 2 clinical trial in patients with chronic SCI who received three intrathecal administrations of 100 x 10⁶ MSCs and were followed for 10 months from the first administration. Efficacy analysis was performed on nine patients, and safety analysis was performed on 11 patients. Clinical scales, urodynamic, neurophysiological and neuroimaging studies were performed previous to treatment and at the end of the follow-up.

Results: The treatment was well-tolerated, without any adverse event related to MSC administration. Patients showed variable clinical improvement in sensitivity, motor power, spasms, spasticity, neuropathic pain, sexual function or sphincter dysfunction, regardless of the level or degree of injury, age or time elapsed from the SCI. In the course of follow-up three patients, initially classified as ASIA A, B and C, changed to ASIA B, C and D, respectively. In urodynamic studies, at the end of follow-up, 66.6% of the patients showed decrease in postmicturition residue and improvement in bladder compliance. At this time, neurophysiological studies showed that 55.5% of patients improved in somatosensory or motor-evoked potentials, and that 44.4% of patients improved in voluntary muscle contraction together with infralesional active muscle reinnervation.

Conclusions: The present guideline for cell therapy is safe and shows efficacy in patients with SCI, mainly in recovery of sphincter dysfunction, neuropathic pain and sensitivity.

Keywords: cell therapy; mesenchymal stromal cells; neuropathic pain; sphincter dysfunction; spinal cord injury.