Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Autism is associated with several neurophysiological alterations, especially immune abnormalities and neural hypoperfusion appear to be broadly consistent.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of stem cells for treating autism.
METHODS: A total of 42 children of autism were divided into three groups: umbilical cord blood group, combination group and control group. Umbilical cord blood group was treated with umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells. Combination group was treated with umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells combined with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Control group received rehabilitation treatment. Related lab examinations were taken for umbilical cord blood and combination groups before treatment, 4 weeks after treatment and 4 months after treatment. Whether there were adverse reactions were observed. Childhood Autism Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impression Scale were employed to assess the children of autism before treatment, 4 weeks and 4 months following first treatment in patients of each group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no statistical difference in lab examinations between umbilical cord blood and combination groups before treatment, 4 weeks and 4 months following treatment. There were no severe adverse reactions following stem cell treatment. Childhood Autism Rating Scale was significantly decreased in the umbilical cord blood and combination groups before treatment, 4 weeks and 4 months following treatment. Clinical Global Impression Scale demonstrated that total efficiency was greater in the combination group compared with umbilical cord blood group. Results indicated that it is safe to use umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for treating children autism and the therapeutic effect of the umbilical cord blood and combination groups was noticeably higher than that of the control group with rehabilitation treatment.