Abstract
Background: Use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has been explored for treatment of cortical visual impairment (CVI) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Objectives: The study evaluated efficacy and safety of hESC therapy in 40 CP children with CVI. Methods: The study had four treatment phases (T1, T2, T3, and T4) separated by gap phases. Patients were evaluated for visual impairment using Nutech Functional Scores (NFS). Results: Of 40 patients included in study, 8 had NFS level (were blind/ had no perception of light); 16 had level2 (perception of light); 10 had level (could identify blurred images); and 6 had level 4 (could see objects up to a distance of 25 cm from the eye). After therapy, 27 patients gained normal vision; 10 patients could see objects 25 cm from the eye; 2 patients could see blurred images; and 1 had perception of light. Overall, 39 patients showed improvement in NFS by at least one level. In SPECT scan, 2 patients had normal perfusion, 18 had significant improvement and 3 had moderate improvement. Conclusion: Use of hESC therapy in patients with CVI showed beneficial results for treatment of CVI in children with CP.
Highlights
Cerebral Palsy (CP), a neurological disorder which affects the brain is caused by hypoxia resulting in many symptoms among which there could be cortical visual impairment (CVI) [1]
Study characteristics This was a retrospective subgroup analysis of a single cohort study of patients having cerebral palsy (CP) with CVI and treated by us with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) conducted from 01 October 2007 to 31 July 2013 in New Delhi, India
The data was collected from patients having CP with CVI retrospectively
Summary
Cerebral Palsy (CP), a neurological disorder which affects the brain is caused by hypoxia resulting in many symptoms among which there could be cortical visual impairment (CVI) [1]. Most children with CP show decreased accommodative function which may or may not result in impaired learning [3]. Treatment of visual impairment in children with CP is challenging, recent research in this area has shown considerable improvement with the use of stem cells in combination with neurotrophic agents [4]. The use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has been explored recently for the treatment of CVI in children with CP. Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scan and an in-house developed scoring system; Nutech Functional Scores (NFS) was used to evaluate the extent of improvement in perfusion before and after treatment with hESCs. Use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has been explored for treatment of cortical visual impairment (CVI) in children with cerebral palsy (CP)
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