Allogeneic umbilical cord blood cell therapy for children with autism: safety and efficacy of the method

Smirnov V.N.; Neznanov N.G.; Morozova Ya.V.; Makarov I.V.; Emelina D.A.; Gasanov R.F.; Bazanovich S.A.

doi:https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro202112111231

Smirnov V.N.

National Medical Research Center of Cardiology

Neznanov N.G.

Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology;
Pavlov First Saint-Petersburg State Medical University

ORCID: 0000-0001-5618-4206

Morozova Ya.V.

National Medical Research Center of Cardiology

Makarov I.V.

Bekhterev National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Neurology

Emelina D.A.

Bekhterev National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Neurology

Gasanov R.F.

Bekhterev National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Neurology

Bazanovich S.A.

National Medical Research Center of Cardiology

Allogeneic umbilical cord blood cell therapy for children with autism: safety and efficacy of the method

Authors:

Smirnov V.N., Neznanov N.G., Morozova Ya.V., Makarov I.V., Emelina D.A., Gasanov R.F., Bazanovich S.A.

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Journal: S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2021;121(11‑2): 31‑37

DOI: 10.17116/jnevro202112111231

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To cite this article:

Smirnov VN, Neznanov NG, Morozova YaV, Makarov IV, Emelina DA, Gasanov RF, Bazanovich SA. Allogeneic umbilical cord blood cell therapy for children with autism: safety and efficacy of the method. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2021;121(11‑2):31‑37. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro202112111231

Подписка 2026 Журнал неврологии и психиатрии им. С.С. Корсакова. Спецвыпуски (S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry (special issues))

Использование инфографики авторами научных работ

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OBJECTIVE

To evaluate effectiveness and safety of umbilical cord blood cells (UCBC) in children with ASD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study comprised 13 boys and 2 girls, mean age 7.0±0.5 years (test group), and 9 boys and 1 girl, mean age 6.0±1.3 years (control group) diagnosed with autism or autistic syndrome. UCBC were infused intravenously in a single dose of 250±20 million cells, four times at 14±3-day intervals. Dynamics of cognitive functions were assessed with WISC subscales, questionnaire Skvortsov Developmental Profile Survey and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) conducted before therapy and six months after the first injection. The dynamic of autistic symptoms was explored with CASD and ATEC questionnaires, fulfilled at the start of the study, 3 and 6 months later (test group) or at the start of the study, and 6 months later (control group).

RESULTS

UCBC was well tolerated and caused no appreciable adverse effects. Observation revealed improvement in cognitive functioning and alleviation of autistic symptoms in patients of the test group six months after the first UCBC injection. Positive dynamics were more noticeable in the test group than in the control group receiving standard therapy.

CONCLUSION

The use of UCBC is safe and might be effective in the complex therapy of autism.

Keywords:

autism

nucleated cells

umbilical cord blood

cognitive impairment

children

therapy

Authors:

Smirnov V.N.

National Medical Research Center of Cardiology

Neznanov N.G.

Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology;
Pavlov First Saint-Petersburg State Medical University

ORCID: 0000-0001-5618-4206

Morozova Ya.V.

National Medical Research Center of Cardiology

Makarov I.V.

Bekhterev National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Neurology

Emelina D.A.

Bekhterev National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Neurology

Gasanov R.F.

Bekhterev National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Neurology

Bazanovich S.A.

National Medical Research Center of Cardiology

Received:

29.07.2021

Accepted:

07.09.2021

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