title: Mobilisation of hematopoietic CD34+ precursor cells in patients with acute stroke is safe--results of an open-labeled non randomized phase I/II trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regenerative strategies in the treatment of acute stroke may have great potential. Hematopoietic growth factors mobilize hematopoietic stem cells and may convey neuroprotective effects. We examined the safety, potential functional and structural changes, and CD34(+) cell-mobilization characteristics of G-CSF treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three cohorts of patients (8, 6, and 6 patients per cohort) were treated subcutaneously with 2.5, 5, or 10 µg/kg body weight rhG-CSF for 5 consecutive days within 12 hrs of onset of acute stroke. Standard treatment included i.v. thrombolysis. Safety monitoring consisted of obtaining standardized clinical assessment scores, monitoring of CD34(+) stem cells, blood chemistry, serial neuroradiology, and neuropsychology. Voxel-guided morphometry (VGM) enabled an assessment of changes in the patients' structural parenchyma. 20 patients (mean age 55 yrs) were enrolled in this study, 5 of whom received routine thrombolytic therapy with r-tPA. G-CSF treatment was discontinued in 4 patients because of unrelated adverse events. Mobilization of CD34(+) cells was observed with no concomitant changes in blood chemistry, except for an increase in the leukocyte count up to 75,500/µl. Neuroradiological and neuropsychological follow-up studies did not disclose any specific G-CSF toxicity. VGM findings indicated substantial atrophy of related hemispheres, a substantial increase in the CSF space, and a localized increase in parenchyma within the ischemic area in 2 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrate a good safety profile for daily administration of G-CSF when begun within 12 hours after onset of ischemic stroke and, in part in combination with routine i.v. thrombolysis. Additional analyses using VGM and a battery of neuropsychological tests indicated a positive functional and potentially structural effect of G-CSF treatment in some of our patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  German Clinical Trial Register DRKS 00000723.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Bezirksklinikum Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. sandra.boy@medbo.de
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Boy
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Sauerbruch
authors: Mathias
authors: M
authors: Kraemer
authors: Thorsten
authors: T
authors: Schormann
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Schlachetzki
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Schuierer
authors: Ralph
authors: R
authors: Luerding
authors: Burkhard
authors: B
authors: Hennemann
authors: Evelyn
authors: E
authors: Orso
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Dabringhaus
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Winkler
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Bogdahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34