[Transplantation of human neural precursor cells in the treatment of children with pervasive developmental disorder].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the efficiency and safety of human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) transplantation in the treatment of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) in children.

METHODS:

Twenty-two children with PDD were treated, including 13 children with Rett syndrome and 9 children with autism. They accepted hNPCs transplantation voluntarily. hNPCs derived from aborted fetal tissue were injected into the lateral ventricle of the patients under supersonic guidance. All patients were assessed according to the Autism Behavior Checklist before operation, at one and six months post operation, and one year later.

RESULTS:

No delayed complications resulting from this therapy were observed. The clinical symptoms of 17 patients, including 8 patients with autism and 9 patients with Rett syndrome, improved in varying degrees. The assessment results of the Autism Behavior Checklist for children with autism showed that compared with pre-operative function, social communication scores were significantly reduced at six months after transplantation, and total scores and social communication and language scores were also significantly reduced 1 year after transplantation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that hNPCs transplantation is effective and safe for treatment of PPD in children. It deserves a further study.

• Authors: Wei-Peng Liu, Jun Wang, Su-Qing Qu, Kan DU, Hui Yang, Yin-Xiang Yang, Zhao-Yan Wang, Zuo Luan
• Journal: Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics (Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi) Vol. 15 Issue 10 Pg. 860-5 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 1008-8830 [Print] China
• PMID: 24131839 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Child
• Child Development Disorders, Pervasive (therapy)
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Neural Stem Cells (transplantation)
• Rett Syndrome (therapy)