Comparison of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy in a private cord blood bank to an epidemiological sample

Res Dev Disabil. 2018 Sep:80:153-160. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2018.06.011. Epub 2018 Jul 14.

Abstract

Background: Although cord blood (CB) stem cell research is being conducted for treatment of cerebral palsy (CP), little is known about children with CP and stored CB.

Aims: To compare demographic and clinical characteristics of children with CP and stored CB to children with CP identified in a population-based study.

Methods and procedures: The Longitudinal Umbilical Stem cell monitoring and Treatment REsearch (LUSTRE®) Registry recruited children from the largest US private CB bank. Demographics, co-morbidities, and gross motor function (GMFCS level and walking ability) were collected and, where possible, compared with the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.

Outcomes and results: 114 LUSTRE participants were compared to 451 ADDM participants. LUSTRE participants were more likely to be white, but sex distribution was similar. Co-morbidities (autism and epilepsy) and functional mobility were also similar.

Conclusions and implications: The results of this analysis suggest that while children diagnosed with CP and with access to stored CB differ from a broader population sample in terms of demographics, they have similar clinical severity and comorbidity profiles. As such, LUSTRE may serve as a valuable source of data for the characterization of individuals with CP, including individuals who have or will receive CB infusions.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Hematopoietic stem cells; Private cord blood bank; Regenerative medicine; Umbilical cord blood; Web-based research.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autistic Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Blood Banks / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cerebral Palsy / epidemiology*
  • Cerebral Palsy / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity
  • Epilepsy / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Registries*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Distribution
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*