title: Cell therapies administered in the chronic phase after stroke: a meta-analysis examining safety and efficacy.
abstract: To assess the safety and efficacy of cell therapies for chronic stroke.
  
  
  
  Five databases were searched for treatments administered >90 days post-stroke. Reporting quality, adherence to research guidelines, treatment safety (risk ratios/pooled incidence rates) and neurological/functional efficacy (Hedge's g) were all evaluated.
  
  
  
  Twenty-three studies examined 17 treatments. Reporting quality scores were medium to high, but adherence to recommended guidelines was lower. Three treatments resulted in serious adverse events; four improved outcomes more than standard care. However, many studies were under-powered and individual patients varied in their response to some treatments.
  
  
  
  Preliminary findings suggest that some cell therapies may be relatively safe and effective, but larger double-blinded placebo-controlled studies are needed to establish the long-term risks and benefits.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Unsworth
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Diana S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dorstyn
mesh_terms: D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012449:Safety; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: cell therapy; chronic; efficacy; meta-analysis; review; safety; stem cells; stroke