Cell therapies administered in the chronic phase after stroke: a meta-analysis examining safety and efficacy

Aim: To assess the safety and efficacy of cell therapies for chronic stroke. Methodology: Five databases were searched for treatments administered >90 days post-stroke. Reporting quality, adherence to research guidelines, treatment safety (risk ratios/pooled incidence rates) and neurological/functional efficacy (Hedge’s g) were all evaluated. Results: Twenty-three studies examined 17 treatments. Reporting quality scores were medium to high, but adherence to recommended guidelines was lower. Three treatments resulted in serious adverse events; four improved outcomes more than standard care. However, many studies were under-powered and individual patients varied in their response to some treatments. Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that some cell therapies may be relatively safe and effective, but larger double-blinded placebo-controlled studies are needed to establish the long-term risks and benefits.

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