Cell transplantation and clinical reality: Kuwait experience in persons with spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Retrospective observational.

Objectives: To compare objective (neurological examination) and subjective (patients perception) recovery in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who chose to undergo cell transplantation therapies (CTT) outside of clinical trials abroad.

Setting: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, Kuwait.

Methods: Nine patients with SCI who had undergone CTT outside Kuwait were identified and their neurological pre-transplantation evaluation according the International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI (ISNCSCI) was collected from hospital records. Post transplantation ISNCSCI examination was conducted during follow-up visits and scores were completed between pre and post CTT. In addition to the ISNCSCI evaluation, change in disability status, and patient's perception of improvement after stem cell transplantation were examined.

Results: Overall, 8 males and 1 female with chronic SCI underwent CTT (42 ± 38.2 months post SCI) in various centers (China, Egypt, Germany, India, and Iran). On follow-up post CTT assessment (89.2 ± 36 months post SCI), 55.5% of individuals reported perceived improvement as follows: increased deep tissue sensation below the injury (100%) or increase in bladder sensation (11.1%). Objective examination after CTT revealed that none of the examined individuals demonstrated improvement in their motor scores or neurological level of SCI.

Conclusion: We were not able to objectively document clinically useful improvements in sensorimotor, autonomic, or functional status in individuals after CTT.