Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a potential therapy for various diseases. Here, the results of intrathecal injection of MSCs in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are reported.
Materials and methods: Four patients were enrolled in the study. Three were male and one was female. There were three secondary-progressive MS patients and one relapsing-remitting MS patient. An amount of 50-80 ml of bone marrow was collected from the patients. MSC cultures were collected for each microbiological examination at each change of medium and passage as well as at the time of sample injection. Then, MSCs were injected into the patients by the intrathecal method. In two patients, the injection was replicated in 1 year.
Results: All the patients were followed up for 2 years. Three patients who had secondary progression did not show disease progress after the injection, and the disease entered a stable state. A degree of recovery was observed in two patients. The relapsing-remitting patient suffered an attack that led to corticosteroid injection. None of the patients reported side effects. In terms of magnetic resonance imaging, there were no new plaques or enhanced plaques.
Conclusion: This study suggests that injection of MSC can be a suitable method, especially for secondary-progressive patients. It seems that reinjection of these stem cells can be safe and sustaining it positively increases the effects of this therapeutic approach.
Keywords: Booster injection; intrathecal mesenchymal stem cells; multiple sclerosis.