Stem cell therapy is being used for some medical conditions, and it is believed that stem cells are a promising treatment for repair of damaged parts of the brain in cerebral palsy. However, this has not yet reached clinical trial because more needs to be understood about it, and there are concerns about cancer possibly being caused by the proliferation of the cells in the brain.
Some practitioners around the world are already advocating stem cell treatment for cerebral palsy, and families are travelling to China and other venues for it. At the moment there is no reliable information about the outcome for the children involved, or about any long-term effects. The concern that the medical community has about these, as yet experimental, treatments is expressed for example in Globe and Mail (Canada), Aug. 23, ‘Stem cell therapy: cure or hoax in China?'
Felling RJ et al. Neural stem/progenitor cells participate in the regenerative response to perinatal hypoxia/ischemia. Journal of Neuroscience 2006 Apr 19, 26(16):4359-69.
Jensen A et al. Perinatal brain damage: from neuroprotection to neuroregeneration using cord blood stem cells Medizinische Klinik 2003 Dec 15, 98 Suppl 2:22-6.
More information: United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation. Potential role for stem cells in the treatment of cerebral palsy, Feb.2007, http://tinyurl.com/2fdz6j.
