title: Safety evaluation of allogeneic umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell therapy for degenerative conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current paradigm for cord blood transplantation is that HLA matching and immune suppression are strictly required to prevent graft versus host disease (GVHD). Immunological arguments and historical examples have been made that the use of cord blood for non-hematopoietic activities such as growth factor production, stimulation of angiogenesis, and immune modulation may not require matching or immune suppression.
  
  
  METHODS
  114 patients suffering from non-hematopoietic degenerative conditions were treated with non-matched, allogeneic cord blood. Doses of 1-3 x 10(7) cord blood mononuclear cells per treatment, with 4-5 treatments both intrathecal and intravenously were performed. Adverse events and hematological, immunological, and biochemical parameters were analyzed for safety evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No serious adverse effects were reported. Hematological, immunological, and biochemical parameters did not deviate from normal ranges as a result of therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current hematology-based paradigm of need for matching and immune suppression needs to be revisited when cord blood is used for non-hematopoietic regenerative purposes in immune competent recipients.
authors.affiliation: Nanshan Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Wan-Zhang
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wei-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Minev
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Famela
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Ichim
authors.forename: Neil H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Riordan
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult