Stem Cell Infusion in the Treatment of Patients with Neurological Sequelae After Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is the second leading cause of death behind ischemic heart disease worldwide. Traditional treatments have some limitations whereas preclinical data suggest that stem cell therapy is a promising regenerative medical treatment given the limited capacity of the central nervous system for self-repairs after ischemic stroke. Previous studies have shown that umbilical cord blood-derived Mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) infusion improves the outcomes of several neurological damage conditions, including stroke. These results encouraged us to initiate the phase I/II clinical trial aiming to evaluate the safety and the efficiency of UC-MSC transplantation in the treatment of patients with neurological complications after ischemic stroke. This case-control phase I/II trial is conducted at Vinmec Times City International Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam between 2021 and 2023. In this trial, 48 patients with neurological complications after ischemic stroke will be enrolled into 3 groups: UC-MSC infusion via intravenous route group (16), UC-MSC infusion via intrathecal administration route group (16), and control group (16). The UC-MSC group (IV/intrathecal) will receive two doses of thawed UC-MSC product at 1.5x106 cells/kg patient body weight with an intervention interval of three months. The primary outcome measures will include the incidence of prespecified administration-associated adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). The potential efficacy will be measured using these scales including National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale-NIHSS, Functional Independence Measure -FIM, Modified Ashworth Scale-MAS, Fine motor skills-FMS, 36-Item Short Form Survey -SF-36. The clinical evaluation will be conducted at baseline and 3-, 6- and 12-months post-intervention.

• Age: from 40 to 75 years.
• Gender: either sex
• Patients have been discharged/patients who are hospitalized but their general condition is stable:

• No need for vasopressor drugs
• No need for mechanical ventilation or oxygen support
• No signs of infection (fever, high WBC, high CRP/Procalcitonin)
• No kidney failure, liver failure, heart failure.
• Time from onset to study participation ≤ 24 months
• National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score >=5
• Agree to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Hematologic cause of stroke
• There is evidence of active infections, failure of heart, lung, liver, or kidney, respiratory distress syndrome, anemia, clotting disorder
• Cancer.
• Pregnancy.
• Tracheostomy, coma, complete quadriplegia, vegetative.