OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have reported that human umbilical cord blood-derived stem cell therapy is safe and effective for subjects with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to analyze the muscle, nerve, urinary, and gastrointestinal function in subjects with SCI, treated with either human umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells (hUCMNCs) or conventional therapy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty subjects with SCI were randomly selected from seventy treated with hUCMNCs therapy in the Wuhan Hongqiao Brain Hospital Co., Ltd. (Wuhan, Hubei) between March 2009 and March 2012. Another thirty subjects with SCI, received only conventional therapy and no hUCMNCs therapy, were included as the control group.
RESULTS: Uncultured hUCMNCs were used for therapy of subjects with SCI. No subjects developed adverse reactions, further demonstrating the safety of hUCMNCs therapy. A significantly higher proportion of subjects in the hUCMNCs therapy group showed improved function in pain and temperature sensation, lower limb muscle strength, bladder function, and gastrointestinal function compared to a conventional therapy group.
CONCLUSIONS: Application of hUCMNCs was effective in the therapy of subjects with SCI. In order to further analyze the safety and efficacy of hUCMNCs therapy for SCI subjects, further prospective studies are warranted.