• Phil Hyu Lee, Ji E Lee, Han-Soo Kim, Sook K Song, Hye Sun Lee, Hyo Suk Nam, June-Won Cheong, Yong Jeong, Hae-Jeong Park, Dong Joon Kim, Chung Mo Nam, Jong Doo Lee, Hyun Ok Kim, and Young H Sohn.
• Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
• Ann. Neurol. 2012 Jul 1;72(1):32-40.

ObjectiveNeuroprotective or regenerative strategies are invaluable in multiple system atrophy (MSA) due to its rapid progression with fatal prognosis. We evaluated the efficacy of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in patients with MSA-cerebellar type (MSA-C).MethodsThirty-three patients with probable MSA-C and baseline unified MSA rating scale (UMSARS) scores ranging from 30 to 50 were randomly assigned to receive MSC (4 × 10(7) /injection) via intra-arterial and intravenous routes or placebo. The primary outcome was change in the total UMSARS scores from baseline throughout a 360-day follow-up period between groups. Secondary outcomes were changes in the UMSARS part II scores, cerebral glucose metabolism, gray matter density, and cognitive performance over a 360-day period.ResultsThe mixed model analysis of neurological deficits revealed a significant interaction effect between treatment group and time, suggesting that the MSC group had a smaller increase in total and part II UMSARS scores compared with the placebo group (p = 0.047 and p = 0.008, respectively). Cerebral glucose metabolism and gray matter density at 360 days relative to the baseline were more extensively decreased in the cerebellum and the cerebral cortical areas, along with greater deterioration of frontal cognition in the placebo group compared with the MSC group. We found no serious adverse effects that were directly related to MSC treatment. However, intra-arterial infusion resulted in small ischemic lesions on magnetic resonance imaging.InterpretationMSC therapy could delay the progression of neurological deficits in patients with MSA-C, suggesting the potential of MSC therapy as a treatment candidate of MSA.Copyright © 2012 American Neurological Association.

25 keywords...

hide…