title: Repeated subarachnoid administrations of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells supported in autologous plasma improve quality of life in patients suffering incomplete spinal cord injury.
abstract: Cell therapy with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) offers new hope for patients suffering from spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  
  Ten patients with established incomplete SCI received four subarachnoid administrations of 30 × 106autologous bone marrow MSCs, supported in autologous plasma, at months 1, 4, 7 and 10 of the study, and were followed until the month 12. Urodynamic, neurophysiological and neuroimaging studies were performed at months 6 and 12, and compared with basal studies.
  
  
  
  Variable improvement was found in the patients of the series. All of them showed some degree of improvement in sensitivity and motor function. Sexual function improved in two of the eight male patients. Neuropathic pain was present in four patients before treatment; it disappeared in two of them and decreased in another. Clear improvement in bladder and bowel control were found in all patients suffering previous dysfunction. Before treatment, seven patients suffered spasms, and two improved. Before cell therapy, nine patients suffered variable degree of spasticity, and 3 of them showed clear decrease at the end of follow-up. At this time, nine patients showed infra-lesional electromyographic recordings suggesting active muscle reinnervation, and eight patients showed improvement in bladder compliance. After three administrations of MSCs, mean values of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin 3 and 4 showed slight increases compared with basal levels, but without statistically significant difference.
  
  
  
  Administration of repeated doses of MSCs by subarachnoid route is a well-tolerated procedure that is able to achieve progressive and significant improvement in the quality of life of patients suffering incomplete SCI.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain; Neuroscience Research Unit, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jvaqueroc@telefonica.net.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaquero
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Unit, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zurita
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Unit, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rico
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Unit, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonilla
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Unit, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aguayo
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Noemí
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tapiador
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sevilla
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morejón
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montilla
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurophysiology Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurophysiology Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.affiliation: Urology Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.affiliation: Urology Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Urology Service, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carballido
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Unit, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Unit, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Coral
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Sermes CRO, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ovejero
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Unit, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma; D011788:Quality of Life; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013346:Subarachnoid Space; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
keywords: SCI; cell therapy; mesenchymal stromal cells