Umbilical cord blood cells in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia in remission

Abstract

Schizophrenia is one of the most severe chronic relapsing mental diseases that significantly affect the level of social adaptation and quality of life of patients, often leads to their disability. Despite the success of modern psychopharmacology, achieving sustainable remission in schizophrenia remains a difficult task. The purpose of the study were the assessments of the safety and tolerability of intravenous administration of allogeneic AB0/ Rh-compatible mononuclear cord blood cells, as well as to study changes in cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia in remission after treatment with umbilical cord blood cells. The study involved 30 patients with schizophrenia (men; average age 32,4 ± 9,7 years) in a state of hypochondria remission with a predominance of cognitive disorders against the background of prominent negative changes (F20.01-F20.04 according to ICD-1 0). Design is a prospective, placebo-controlled trial of efficiency and safety. The study consisted of 2 phases. In the pilot phase (3 months), the tolerability of a single cryopreserved concentrate of human cord blood injection containing mononuclear cells in a dose of 260± 20 million cells was estimated. The duration and severity of the effect was compared with placebo. In the clinical phase (48 months), patients received 4 injections of cord blood cell suspension in the same dose with intervals of 14 ± 3 days. The efficacy and safety of exposure were assessed using psychopathological, psychometric (scale of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia - PANSS) and psychological (The MATRIX Consensus Cognitive Battery) methods. The obtained results allow to conclude that the influence of human cord blood mononuclear cells on cognitive functions is realized due to the expressed metabolic (nootropic) and psychostimulating effects and restoration of normal neurotransmitters ratio. The effects are manifested in the form of activation of intellectual activity, acceleration of information processing, correction of memory functions, increase in the level of attention and vigilance, as well as a noticeable increase in "social intelligence” and, as a result, improvement in the quality of life. The effect of applying cord blood cells to enhance cognitive functions is characterized by resistance and duration of at least 4 years.