Clinical Trial on The Use of Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Extension CMN/ELA)

Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) typically endure a progressive paralysis due to the continued loss of motoneurons that leads them to death in less than 5 years. No treatment has changed its natural history. Intraspinal injections of bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) have been able to ameliorate the course of ALS in murine models, acting as pumps of trophic factors that keep the motoneurons functional. Moreover, the clinical trial (Study NCT00855400 on www.ClinicalTrials.gov) conducted by our research group to determine the safety and efficacy of Autologous Stem Cell transplantation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in humans, found that this procedure is feasible and safe. Continuing with that study, we have designed a phase I/II clinical trial to check the feasibility of the intraspinal and intrathecal infusion of autologous bone marrow stem cells.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnose established following the World Federation of Neurology criteria
• More than 6 and less than 36 months of evolution of the disease
• Medullar onset of the disease
• More than 18 and less than 70 years old
• Forced Vital Capacity ≥ 50%
• Total time of oxygen saturation <90% inferior to 5% of the sleeping time
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Neurological or psychiatric concomitant disease
• Need of parenteral or enteral nutrition through percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or nasogastric tube
• Concomitant systemic disease
• Treatment with corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or immunosuppressors during the last 12 months
• Inclusion in other clinical trials
• Unability to understand the informed consent