Sustained clinical improvement of Parkinson's disease in two patients with facially-transplanted adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction cells
Michael Carstens, Ihtsham Haq, Jorge Martinez-Cerrato, Severiano Dos-Anjos, Ken Bertram, Diego Correa, Michael Carstens, Ihtsham Haq, Jorge Martinez-Cerrato, Severiano Dos-Anjos, Ken Bertram, Diego Correa
Abstract
Cell-based therapy has been studied as an alternative for Parkinson's Disease (PD), with different routes of administration. The superficial fascia and facial muscles possess a rich blood supply, while venous and lymphatic access via the orbit and the cribriform plate provide a route to cerebral circulation. We here document positive clinical effects in two patients with PD treated with autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cell preparation, implanted into the face and nasal cavity. Two patients with PD were transplanted with 60 million total nucleated cells in processed SVF into the facial muscles and nose. Serial evaluations were carried out up to 5 years (patient 1) and 1 year (patient 2), using the PDQ-39, the UPDRS, and serial videos. Video scoring was reviewed in a blinded fashion. Both patients reported qualitative improvement in motor and nonmotor symptoms following injection. Quantitatively, PDQ-39 scores decreased in all categories for both. On-medication UPDRS motor scores decreased in both (20 to 4 in patient 1, 18 to 3 in patient 2) despite taking the same or less medication (LEDD 350 to 350 in patient 1, LEDD 1175 to 400 in pt2). Both subjects had off-medication UPDRS scores similar to their pretreatment on-medication scores (20 to 14 in patient 1, 18 to 23 in patient 2). These preliminary findings describe local facial and nasal injections of SVF preparation followed by prolonged clinical benefit in two patients. Despite an unknown mechanism of action, this potential therapy warrants careful verification and investigation.
Keywords: Adipose stem cells; Multipotent-stromal cells; Parkinson’s disease; Regenerative medicine; Stromal vascular fraction.
Conflict of interest statement
Declaration of Competing Interest Michael Carstens consults for GID Bio. All other authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Source: PubMed