Intensive neurorehabilitation and allogeneic stem cells transplantation in canine degenerative myelopathy

This study investigates a new approach to treating Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) in dogs, a spinal cord disease similar to ALS in humans. The approach combines intensive physical therapy with stem cell transplants to try and improve the dog's quality of life and extend their survival. The study involved 13 dogs with DM. Some received a high-intensity rehabilitation program with stem cell transplants (INSCP group), while others received a less intense rehabilitation program (ARP group). The researchers then compared how long the dogs in each group lived and how well they could move. The results showed that dogs in the INSCP group lived longer and had better mobility compared to the ARP group. This suggests that combining intensive rehabilitation with stem cell transplants may be a promising treatment for DM in dogs.

• 1
  The INSCP group (intensive neurorehabilitation with stem cells) had a mean survival time of 438 days, compared to 274 days for the ARP group (ambulatory rehabilitation protocol).
• 2
  Significant differences in OFS (Open Field Score, a measure of ambulation) classifications were observed between the INSCP and ARP groups at various time points (p = 0.008).
• 3
  A significant difference [F(4,64) = 14.287, p ≤0.001] was reported in the OFS evolution for the INSCP group across different time points, with improvements seen from T0 until the first follow-up.