J Transl Med, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02843-0 · Published: May 7, 2021
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe traumatic disease that can lead to significant disability. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for SCI treatment. The study analyzed data from multiple sources to determine if MSCs are safe and effective for treating SCI, and to identify the best source and method of transplanting these cells. The researchers searched several databases up to April 2021, focusing on studies that measured motor and sensory function, ASIA grade improvement, Barthel Index (BI), and adverse reactions.
MSCs transplantation can be considered as a potential therapy for SCI patients to improve motor and sensory functions, and quality of life.
Autologous MSCs and intrathecal injection may be the preferred options, but further research is needed to optimize the treatment protocol.
Further well-designed and high-quality clinical, randomized controlled trials are required to compare different MSC sources and transplantation methods.