Can cerebral palsy be treated with stem cell transplantation for a 14-month-old baby?

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I want to ask about the treatment of cerebral palsy with stem cells. My 14-month-old baby has encephalitis that damages the left brain, has been treated at the hospital, but the right half is paralyzed and has poor activity, so I want to consult if there is an application of medical methods. Can I get stem cells?
Hoang Van Nghia (Hanoi)
Answer
Answered by Doctor, Doctor Cao Thi Anh Dao - Anesthesiologist - Rehabilitation unit - Inpatient unit of Regenerative medicine and cell therapy - General Hospital Vinmec Times City International Faculty.
Hello,
With the question "Can cerebral palsy be treated with stem cell transplantation for a 14-month-old baby?" , the doctor would like to answer as follows:
Vinmec Times City International General Hospital has been conducting research on the application of stem cell infusion treatment through spinal cord for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, whose cause can be can occur in the fetal period, during and after birth such as: postpartum asphyxia, underdevelopment of the brain, cerebral hemorrhage, premature birth, low birth weight, multiple pregnancies, postpartum sepsis and some encephalitis.. However, this time the hospital is waiting for further evaluation studies.
Treatment of cerebral palsy with stem cells: Stem cells entered the body have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into any adult cell in the body. The process of taking stem cells from bone marrow at the patient's bilateral iliac spines, under general anesthesia, then isolating stem cells from the bone marrow and infusing these stem cells into the patient's spinal cord under anesthesia. Under anesthesia, the patient will be treated with prophylactic antibiotics, stay in the hospital for 3-5 days and after 1 week will resume rehabilitation. Examine and re-evaluate after 1, 3, 6 months, possibly a second transplant after 6 months.
Advantages and disadvantages of stem cell treatment for cerebral palsy:
Advantages: can improve motor function, improve quality of life: physical health, mental health, pain... Disadvantages: process stem cell transplant in children with cerebral palsy through 2 times of anesthesia and the procedure of taking bone marrow and then infusing stem cells into the spinal cord, so there may be some side effects after transplantation such as: mild fever for the first 2 days, vomiting, sadness vomiting, pain, very rarely changes in blood pressure, changes in heart rate and respiratory failure Spinal stem cell infusion can treat some of the following patients: cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's, traumatic brain injury. In addition, stem cell infusion is also applied in patients with blood cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, skin and epithelial regeneration, in orthopedic trauma, etc. by intravenous stem cell infusion. other circuit or transmission line.
You need to understand the stem cell transplant process, voluntarily participate if available in the appropriate research group, the patient after visiting the clinic meets all the criteria for a stem cell transplant... Before entering the hospital, the children are healthy, no cough, fever, no other infections, admission to the hospital according to the regulations for patients before, during and after transplant. After transplantation, it is necessary to monitor such as cough, vomiting, fever, pain... Lie on your head for 48 hours except when eating and cleaning, change your position slowly, eat porridge or milk after fully awake and follow the instructions. doctor's orders.
If you still have questions about cerebral palsy treatment, you can take your child to a hospital under Vinmec Health System for further examination and advice. Thank you for trusting and sending questions to Vinmec. Wishing you lots of health.
Best regards,