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Stem Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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Abstract

Objective

Assess the safety and efficacy of upcoming stem cell treatments and analyze their effects on the cognitive and behavioral impairments in patients diagnosed with autism.

Methods

We included controlled and noncontrolled, randomized and non-randomized trials evaluating stem cell therapy as a treatment in patients with autism spectrum disorder compared to placebo or without comparator. Data Sources: Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE and EMBASE. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane’s Risk of Bias tool and the NIH’s Quality Assessment Tool for Studies With No Control Group.

Results

Eleven trials including 461 patients proved eligible. ABC scale meta-analysis showed a mean raw of -11.97 in the intervention groups (95 % CI -91.45 to 67.52, p < 0.01). CARS scale reported a mean raw of -9.08 (95 % CI -15.43 to -2.73, p < 0.01). VABS scale was reported by their domains: communication domain reported a mean raw of 2.69 (95 % CI 1.30 to 4.08, p = 0.92); daily living domain, 1.99 (95 % CI 0.83 to 3.15, p = 0.51); motor domain, 1.06 (95 % CI -0.37 to 2.48, p = 0.20); socialization domain, 3.09 (95 % CI 1.71 to 4.48, p = 0.61); adaptive behavior domain, 2.10 (95 % CI 1.04 to 3.16, p = 0.36). Furthermore, the most common side effects reported included fever, hyperactivity, vomit, headache, and aggressiveness; no serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions

The body of evidence suggests that stem cell therapy significantly improves scales in patients with autism spectrum disorder, hence, future studies should help us have more confidence in the results. We found no serious adverse events related to the stem cell therapy.

Graphical Abstract

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Data Availability

Not applicable.

Code Availability

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Abbreviations

ASDs:

Autism spectrum disorders

MSCs:

mesenchymal stem cells

BMMNC:

bone marrow mononuclear cell

CBMNC:

cord blood mononuclear cell

CRD42021225190:

PROSPERO

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Acknowledgements

We want to thank Marahí Ortiz-Castillo for the design and execution of the graphical abstract.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hematology Service, Hospital UniversitariöDr. José Eleuterio González¨, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México

    Laura Villarreal-Martínez, Gerardo González-Martínez, Andrea Judith Bautista-Gómez, Adrián González-Martínez, Miguel Ortiz-Castillo & David Alejandro Robles-Sáenz

  2. Plataforma INVEST Medicina UANL-KER Unit Mayo Clinic (KER Unit Mexico), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, 64460, México

    Melissa Sáenz-Flores & Elizabeth Garza-López

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  1. Laura Villarreal-Martínez
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  2. Gerardo González-Martínez
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Contributions

All authors were involved, in the conceiving of the research idea and elaboration of the research protocol. LVM supervised the project fulfillment. EGL designed the search strategy and performed the literature search. GGM, MSF, AJBG, AGM screened studies for eligibility. GGM, MSF, AJBG, AGM assessed the risk of bias. GGM, MSF, AJBG, AGM performed data extraction. MSF performed the statistical analysis. MOC, DARS, MSF, AJBG, AGM contributed in the design, interpretation of data and drafting of the work. All authors were involved in the elaboration and approval of the final version of the manuscript. LVM is guarantor. The corresponding author attests that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and that no others meeting the criteria have been omitted.

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Correspondence to Laura Villarreal-Martínez.

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Villarreal-Martínez, L., González-Martínez, G., Sáenz-Flores, M. et al. Stem Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Stem Cell Rev and Rep 18, 155–164 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12015-021-10257-0

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