Safety and feasibility of autologous bone marrow cellular therapy in relapsing-progressive multiple sclerosis

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Jun;87(6):679-85. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2010.44. Epub 2010 May 5.

Abstract

In this phase I study, we assessed the safety and feasibility of intravenous, autologous bone marrow (BM) cell therapy, without immunosuppressive preconditioning, in six patients with clinically definite, relapsing-progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Assessment of efficacy was a secondary objective and employed clinical disability rating scales, multimodal evoked potential (MMEP) recordings, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Cells were harvested, filtered and infused intravenously in a day-case procedure that was well tolerated by patients and was not associated with any serious adverse events (AEs). Over a period of 12 months after the therapy, clinical disability scores showed either no change (Extended Disability Status Score, EDSS) or improvement (MS impact scale-29, MSIS-29), and MMEPs showed neurophysiological improvement. MRI scans did not show any significant changes over a post-therapy period of 3 months. The lack of serious adverse effects and the suggestion of a beneficial effect in this small sample of patients with progressive disease justify conducting a larger phase II/III study to make a fuller assessment of the efficacy of mobilization of autologous BM in patients with MS.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / methods*
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Evoked Potentials*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / surgery*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Transplantation, Autologous