Transplantation of stem cells may be able to help babies with cerebral palsy

Doctors are conducting research to determine whether brain damage that occurs during the birth of babies can be repaired with stem cell transplants

Cerebral palsy is a term used for brain damage (poor muscle coordination) that occurs before or during birth. A small percentage of babies sustain the damage during birth, when complications such as prolonged deliveries occur. Prolonged deliveries can cause a lack of oxygen the child's brain causing permanent brain damage or cerebral palsy. It is very important that doctors act within the standard of care to insure that children are delivered in a safe and healthy manor. When problems do present themselves, and brain damage is evident, stem cell transplantation may be able to reverse the permanent damage that has occurred.

Preliminary data on animals has shown that mature stem cells from the bone marrow will migrate to the site of brain injury. Research is quickly being done to enhance this natural repair process.

Of course it would be most beneficial if more care was taken to prevent brain injuries from happening during delivery. However, with this new procedure that is being tested on animals, bone marrow is removed from one group and transplanted into a different group to see the effects. The cells from the bone marrow are transplanted into the vascular system of the other group and monitored to see whether the transplanted cells will find their way to the brain to help repair damaged brain cells and make new ones as well. The idea is that if the cells are transplanted into the right place they might implant and function.

Researchers hope to begin clinical trials on mature stem cells in about five years. Cerebral palsy results in a wide range of disability, from undetectable to severe physical disability. Some children also have accompanying learning and memory problems. Doctors believe that the transplant techniques being developed to help brain injured babies have the potential to help in a wide range of other disabilities as well.