New Treatment for Cerebral Palsy: M2 Macrophage Transplantation Improves Motor and Cognitive Function

2Cell transplantation is a promising new avenue for treating cerebral palsy (CP). Previous research has shown that stem cell therapy can help children with cerebral palsy; a study published this month indicates that treatment with macrophages may also be effective.  Essentially, macrophages are cells that can repair damaged brain tissue and blood vessels, thereby enhancing neurological functions such as motor control and cognition. Cerebral palsy is primarily defined as a motor disability, but many children with CP also have cognitive impairments. Treatment with macrophages may be able to improve both issues.

New Cerebral Palsy Research from the Journal of Neurorestoratology

Methods

Elena Chernykh and colleagues in Novosibirsk, Russia treated 57 children with intrathecal administration of autologous M2 macrophages. They used M2 macrophages specifically because of their high regenerative potential and anti-inflammatory activity. The children all had severe cerebral palsy; many of their cases were caused by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or intracranial hemorrhage around the time of birth. Chernykh et al. assessed the safety of this treatment, as well as changes in neurological function, as measured by the Gross Motor Function Measure test, Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-Fine Motor test, Ashworth scale, Medical Research Council scale, and a questionnaire used to evaluate cognitive abilities. They examined each child three months after the treatment and did further monitoring for up to five years.

Results: Improvements in Motor and Cognitive Function

After three months, the children showed “remarkable improvement.” This included increased gross and fine motor skills, increased strength, and decreased spasticity. The benefits were not restricted to motor function; the treatment also influenced cognition. Some of the children (16/42) understood or improved their understanding of speech, and 12 of 51 had “the appearance of a meaning-bearing speech.” 38 of 42 showed decreased aggression, and 34 of 52 improved their contact with outsiders. Moreover, 29 children had previously experienced seizures; seizure activity ceased for 10 of those children and decreased for another 14.

The Bottom Line

These findings are quite impressive, especially because improvements in motor function and mental abilities did not decrease over the duration of the study.

One patient’s atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema) worsened after treatment, but besides that, there were no serious side effects. In their five-year follow-up, the authors found that none of the children experienced neurological decline, increased seizure activity, or tumor development. More research is certainly needed, and this should not be viewed as a cure. However, this study indicates that M2 macrophage transplantation may be a safe and effective treatment for cerebral palsy.


Legal Help for Cerebral Palsy Caused By Birth Injuries

If your child has cerebral palsy and you believe it may have resulted from medical malpractice around the time of their delivery, the birth injury attorneys at ABC Law Centers (Reiter & Walsh, P.C.)  may be able to help. To find out if you have a case, contact our firm for a free evaluation. We have numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that attest to our success, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

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Source

Chernykh, E., Shevela, E., Kafanova, M., Sakhno, L., Polovnikov, E., & Ostanin, A. (2018). Monocyte-derived macrophages for treatment of cerebral palsy: a study of 57 cases. Journal of Neurorestoratology, 6, 41-47. https://www.dovepress.com/monocyte-derived-macrophages-for-treatment-of-cerebral-palsy-a-study-o-peer-reviewed-article-JN?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TrendMD_Credit_0 

Other Blog Posts on Recent Research

cerebral palsy; neonatal brain damage; CP; birth injury; disability; special needs

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32 replies
  1. Aritra Ray says:

    I am Aritra Ray,suffering from cerebral pulsy.age-20.I can not able to walk and speak properly.head and neck not under control.Is it possible to improve myself by stem cell therapy in this age.I am begging your advise.

  2. rstokes says:

    Dear Aritra Ray, we have responded to your question in a private email.
    Best wishes,
    The team at ABC Law Centers

  3. Prayas Barman says:

    Sir, I am prayas Barman I have cp and now 08 years old, I cannot walk and stand properly due stiffness of my leg . please give me a solution.

  4. Reiter & Walsh, P.C. says:

    Dear Prayas, a member of our team will reach out shortly to assist with your questions.

    Warm regards,
    ABC Law Centers

  5. vinod says:

    My son 16 years old suffering from cp by birth and cannot hold and do activities with his left hand as no strength in wrist and fingers. He is slow learner with some motor difficulties and mild seizures at intervals of 6months approx. please suggest and guide us for latest treatment.

  6. rstokes says:

    Hello, a member of our team will reach out shortly to assist with your questions.
    Best wishes,
    ABC Law Centers

  7. Sameera says:

    Hi I’m sameera, my cousin is suffering from cp… she cannot walk and stand…. can i get any more details of the treatment? Please help us out

  8. Radha says:

    I am 14 years old . I am suffering from cerebral palsy. Cannot walk and stand properly. Please suggest about treatment.

  9. Reiter & Walsh, P.C. says:

    Dear Radha,

    Thank you for contacting abclawcenters.com. A member from the team will reach out to help you with your questions.

    Kind regards,
    ABC Law Centers

  10. kartik says:

    Hi, I am kartik, 7yrs have celebral palsy ( Periventricular leaucomalacia) . I cannot walk , sit and stand properly. If you have any treaatment please let me know.

  11. ayushi says:

    Hi, my 20 year old brother suffers from cerebral palsy.He can sit, but not stand or walk. Could you provide more information about the treatment ?

  12. chandani says:

    my brother is cp child he has some motor difaculties like he can’t walk or stand nd he has having trouble using his left hand can u guide me for some treatment.

  13. Pranav Patil says:

    My brother is having Cerebral Palsy. He is not able to walk and speak. Kindly suggest treatment for the same

  14. Durga Mohapatra says:

    Sir,
    My Son, who is 5 years old now affected with CP and till now his neck control has not come. Not able to sit, speak etc. But He understands many things. Stem Cell Therapy really works. Kindly help .. Please sir.

  15. Michael says:

    Up another night, year 3 and shes three, and captures hearts of all. She stumbles and falls and refuses to give up. And so do we. But we are desperate for her future. And to hold those responsible. But moreover if there’s a way to improve her lifestyle. We need this route yesterdsay.

  16. rstokes says:

    A member of our team will be emailing you soon, but please note that we are a birth injury law firm and cannot provide treatments.

  17. rstokes says:

    A member of our team will be emailing you soon, but please note that we are a birth injury law firm and cannot provide treatments.

  18. Palak sehgal says:

    Hi my daughter is 11 years old suffering from cp she cannot walk and speak properly.

  19. Mehul Shah says:

    Hi there
    I have a son who has CP, 17 years old. He is mostly a wheelchair-bound however he can walk in the walker with someone holding his one hand. What would be your recommendation of the treatment?

  20. rstokes says:

    We cannot provide medical advice (as we are a law firm), but a member of our team will reach out to you soon with more information.

  21. rstokes says:

    We cannot provide medical advice because we are a law firm, but a member of our team will reach out to you soon with more information.

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