What are the effects of stem cell transplantation for people with ischemic stroke?

Abstract

Low‐certainty evidence suggests that for adults with acute, subacute, or chronic middle cerebral artery territory infarct, receiving stem cell transplantation may have little effect or an unimportant impact on neurologic impairment and on the numbers of people with severe worsening of neurologic deficit. However, stem cell transplantation may result in fewer deaths (96 vs 145 per 1000 people; all values on average) and infections (199 vs 250 per 1000 people) than are reported with conventional treatment. The confidence intervals for death and infection are wide, and trial results cannot rule out a detrimental effect. The effect on disability or dependency is uncertain. Follow‐up in these trials ranged from six months to seven years.