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Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis: Current Status

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Abstract

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is a treatment option for aggressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) that has been derived from haematological indications and repurposed for treatment of refractory autoimmune diseases. In the present review, a search for clinical studies on AHSCT was performed on the PubMed website and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Papers were selected according to the following criteria: text written in English language, publication date between 2014 and August 2019, and reports including more than five patients. Prospective randomised and uncontrolled trials and retrospective case series were reviewed to examine the safety and efficacy of the procedure. Treatment protocols, pathological data and economic aspects of AHSCT were also succinctly covered. Growing evidence suggests that long-term suppression of inflammatory activity with stabilization or improvement of disability can be achieved in a high proportion of properly selected patients. More sophisticated outcome measures recently adopted, including effect on brain atrophy and disease biomarkers, are giving further insight into the effectiveness of transplant. The risks of the procedure have decreased to levels that can be considered acceptable for treatment of individuals with aggressive forms of MS. Careful selection of patients with an expected good benefit/risk profile, which is maximal when AHSCT is performed in early phases of the disease, and the expertise of transplant centres are critical to the success of treatment. Higher efficacy of AHSCT than with conventional treatments has recently been demonstrated by one randomised trial and further evidence is awaited from ongoing and planned trials comparing AHSCT with the most effective disease-modifying therapeutic agents.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for support from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) (EME Project: 16/126/26 to PM) and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre funding scheme to Imperial College London.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Du Cane Road, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, UK

    Alice Mariottini, Eleonora De Matteis & Paolo A. Muraro

  2. Department of Neurosciences, Drug and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Alice Mariottini

  3. Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Centre for Experimental Neurological Therapies, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Eleonora De Matteis

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  1. Alice Mariottini
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  2. Eleonora De Matteis
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Correspondence to Paolo A. Muraro.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. A. Mariottini discloses personal fees from Merck-Serono and non-financial support from Biogen Idec, Teva and Novartis. Dr. E. De Matteis reports no conflict of interest. Prof. Paolo A. Muraro discloses travel support and speaker honoraria from unrestricted educational activities organised by Novartis, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer Pharma, Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono and Sanofi Aventis.

Funding

The present work was supported by the National Institute of Health Research (EME Project: 16/126/26 to PM) and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre funding scheme to Imperial College London.

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Mariottini, A., De Matteis, E. & Muraro, P.A. Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis: Current Status. BioDrugs 34, 307–325 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40259-020-00414-1

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