The use of mesenchymal stem cells in optic nerve atrophy in patients with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study

Introduction. Cellular therapy of multiple sclerosis is currently considered to be one of the most promising treatment alternatives for this severe pathology of the nervous system.

Materials and Methods. Two patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) complicated by partial optic nerve atrophy (ONA) caused by bilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis received treatment using autologous multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs were derived by bone marrow aspiration/biopsy followed by isolation, culturing, and cryostorage. MSCs were administered in compliance with the developed protocol by short-term intravenous infusion of resuspension solution of 5% glucose supplemented with 10% autoserum at a dose of 2.0×10⁶/kg body weight in combination with local parabulbar administration of MSCs at a dose of 10×10⁶ once per month during 4 months. The control group consisted of 2 patients of the same age with RRMS with partial ONA of the same severity who received background (metabolic and glucocorticoid) therapy.

Results. Neurological and neuro-ophthalmological examination was carried out before and 6 months after treatment. The pilot study performed demonstrated that the elaborated protocol for MSC therapy is safe and, according to the preliminary data, therapy was characterized by moderate clinical effectiveness in incurable patients with RRMS and ONA.

Conclusions. The findings make it possible to broaden the range of clinical studies focused on cellular therapy for multiple sclerosis.