Cellular therapy in motor neuron disease: A case report

Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It selectively damages the motor neurons and is currently an incurable disease. Cellular therapy holds a promising future in the management of MND. We herewith present a case of a 63-year-old man who underwent intrathecal transplantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) as a therapeutic treatment modality in a clinical case ofMND. The transplantation was followed by multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation. Improvements were noted in the muscle strength, fine motor activities, fasciculation, cramps and walking. The outcome measures of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis -Functional Rating ScaleRevised (ALS-FRSR) score improved from 33 to 37; Bergs Balance Score improved from 43 to 50 and 6-minute walk test improved from 283.8 m to 303.6m. His Functional Independence Measure (FIM) remained unchanged at 113.These improvements may be attributed to cellular therapy along with standard treatment and neurorehabilitation. Cellular therapy, if administered in the early stages of disease may have beneficial effects in the treatment of MND. However, rigorous and heterogeneous methodologies are required for definitive findings