Bone Marrow Stem Cells may Help Treat Traumatic Brain Injuries

Scientists have safely used stem cells derived from a patient's own bone marrow in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

This was part of a Phase I clinical trial at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

Head Injury | Brain Injury Overview Types Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment
Head injury or traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of disability among children and young adults that leads to varying degrees of physical and mental stability. Fortunately, it is also one of the preventable brain disorder.

"Our data demonstrate that the acute harvest of bone marrow and infusion of bone marrow mononuclear cells to acutely treat severe TBI in children is safe," said Charles S. Cox, Jr., the study's lead author.

The clinical trial, which included 10 children aged 5 to 14 with severe TBI, was done in partnership with Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.

All the children were treated within 48 hours of their injury with their own stem cells, which were collected from their bone marrow, processed and returned to them intravenously.

Bone Marrow Transplantation
Animation and slides providing graphic explanation of Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT)/Stem Cell Transplantation that is done for leukemia and other blood-related disorders.

UTHealth's Department of Neurology is also currently testing the same bone marrow stem cell procedure in adults with acute stroke.

As a Phase I trial designed to look at feasibility and safety, the study did not assess efficacy.

Stem Cell Banks - Hope for a Healthier Humanity - An Interview
Learn all about stem cells and cord blood banking from Jeevan’s Dr. Saranya Narayan. An interview on the subject.

However, after six months of follow-up, all of the children had significant improvement and 7 of the 10 children had a "good outcome," meaning no or only mild disability.

The study was published in this month's issue of Neurosurgery.

Stem Cell Research - Changing Wishes to Possibilities and Possibilities to Reality
Medindia special report about the International Symposium on Stem Cell Research.

Source-ANI