Repeated subarachnoid administrations of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells supported in autologous plasma improve quality of life in patients suffering incomplete spinal cord injury

Abstract Background aims Cell therapy with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) offers new hope for patients suffering from spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Ten patients with established incomplete SCI received four subarachnoid administrations of 30 × 10 6 autologous 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. Results 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. Conclusions 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.