title: Clinical outcome of autologous mononuclear cells transplantation for spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cell-based therapies can be used to treat neurological diseases and spinal cord injuries. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical outcome of bone marrow derived mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) transplantation in patients with spinal cord injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following a systematic review to detect clinical intervention studies, a meta-analysis was done for pooling data to estimate the outcome of BM-MNCs transplantation. The percentage of the patients with improved ASIA scale from one grade to a higher grade was defined as the main outcome. By considering the study design and outcome measurement, two reviewers independently extracted the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight relevant primary studies were found; seven qualified studies, with a combined total of 328 patients were assessed by meta-analysis, including 314 ASIA-A, 13 ASIA-B, 94 cervical, 227 thoracic and 60 acute injuries. The percentage of the patients' improvement was tested by meta-analysis through random and fixed models. The overall percentage of all patients' improved ASIA scale after a one- year follow-up (95% CIs) was 43 (0.27-0.59).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from published trials revealed that encouraging results were achieved by autologous BMMNCs for the treatment of spinal cord injury. However, the number of clinical trials included in the systematic review was too limited to reach a definite conclusion. More qualified clinical trials with standardized methods are needed to truly justify the outcome of this therapeutic modality in SCI patients.
authors: 1. MD, PhD, GMP, Compliant Stem Cell Manufacturing Facility, Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. hr.aghayan@gmail.com.
authors: Hamid Reza
authors: HR
authors: Aghayan
authors: 2. MD, PhD, GMP, Compliant Stem Cell Manufacturing Facility, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. b_arjmand@farabi.tums.ac.ir.
authors: Babak
authors: B
authors: Arjmand
authors: 3. Clinical Knowledge Management Unit, Department of Community Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. Mohsenyaq@yahoo.com.
authors: Mohsen
authors: M
authors: Yaghoubi
authors: 4. MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. moradi_m@iums.ac.ir.
authors: Maziar
authors: M
authors: Moradi-Lakeh
authors: 5. PhD candidate, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. hkashani@razi.tums.ac.ir.
authors: Homa
authors: H
authors: Kashani
authors: 6. MS, Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, Institute of Mental Health, a Partnership between the University of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, UK. Farhadshokraneh@gmail.com.
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Shokraneh
keywords: Bone Marrow Derived Mononuclear Cells; Cell Transplantation; Spinal Cord Injury