Autologous bone marrow stem cell neurotransplantation in stroke patients. An open study.
OBJECTIVE
Bone marrow stem cells (BMSC) were transplanted into the perilesional area in five patients bearing sequels of stroke, to evaluate the safety of the procedure and tolerance to the transplanted cells.


METHODS
Cells were obtained from bone marrow samples taken from the same patient and stereotactically implanted into the targets, determined using a combination of images, and trans-operative recording of multiunit activity. The cells were implanted in several points along tracts in the perilesional region.


RESULTS
No important adverse events derived from surgery or transplant were observed during the one year follow-up period, or detected using a combination of tests and functional measurements applied pre- and post-surgically. In contrast, some improvements were observed regarding the neurological condition of the patients, but the small number of patients in the study does not allow any conclusive statement.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that BMSC can be safely transplanted into the brain of patients, with excellent tolerance and without complications, using the methods described here.
Suárez-Monteagudo
Carlos
C
Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica, Habana, Cuba.
Hernández-Ramírez
Porfirio
P
Alvarez-González
Lázaro
L
García-Maeso
Iván
I
de la Cuétara-Bernal
Karelys
K
Castillo-Díaz
Lázara
L
Bringas-Vega
María L
ML
Martínez-Aching
Gilda
G
Morales-Chacón
Lilia M
LM
Báez-Martín
Margarita M
MM
Sánchez-Catasús
Carlos
C
Carballo-Barreda
Maylen
M
Rodríguez-Rojas
Rafael
R
Gómez-Fernández
Lázaro
L
Alberti-Amador
Esteban
E
Macías-Abraham
Consuelo
C
Balea
Elvira Dorticós
ED
Rosales
Lázaro Cortina
LC
Del Valle Pérez
Lázaro
L
Ferrer
Berta B Socarrás
BB
González
Raúl Macías
RM
Bergado
Jorge A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020521:Stroke / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods