Neurophysiological outcomes following mesenchymal stem cell therapy in multiple sclerosis

Objective: To report on neurophysiological outcomes derived from transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) following autologous mesenchymal stem cells (aMSCs) therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: 20 adults with confirmed MS were recruited to participate in a phase II randomized control trial to assess the safety and potential benefits of aMSCs infusion. At Week 0, patients were randomly assigned to receive either aMSCs (n = 9) or a placebo infusion (n = 11). At Week 24, the placebo group received the aMSCs infusion. Blind assessments were performed at Weeks 0, 24 and 48. Outcomes consisted of TMS measures of corticomotor excitability and motor conduction along with measures of motor impairments and disability. Results: Post-infusion, no change was detected in measures of corticomotor excitability or measures of intra- or interhemispheric inhibition. The latency of motor evoked potentials and central motor conduction time were significantly prolonged. These changes in motor conduction were associated with declines in hand dexterity post-infusion. Conclusion: Clinical and neurophysiological measures showed no improvement following aMSCs therapy in this cohort of MS patients. Significance: Although promising, stem cell therapy remains elusive regarding its benefits in influencing disease activity in MS patients. (c) 2022 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.