CLINICAL TRIAL: FOLLOW-UP STUDY: NERUAL TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION IN SYRINGOMYELIA

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. PTS is a progressive disorder in which a fluid-containing cavity or cyst within the spinal cord expands and elongates over time. Ascending expansion of the cyst causes pain, loss of sensory and motor function at levels above the original site of injury. To minimize further neurological deterioration, spinal shunts are used to drain the expanding syrinx, but these do not permanently halt the progression of PTS. In animal studies worldwide, it had been shown that fetal neural tissue transplants into clinically relevant spinal injuries grew and completely filled areas of cystic cavitations seen in human spinal cord injury. Therefore, the pilot study tested the hypothesis that fetal tissue placed into a syrinx in humans would act as a plug, and thereby prevent further expansion. The experiment also tested whether fetal neural grafts adversely impacted the recipients neurological functions or activities of daily living. Motor and sensory function, disability, and pain were quantitatively evaluated both pre- and post-operatively using established methods. Determination of transplant survival and growth were made from serial magnetic resonance imaging MRI exams. Somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded to assess whether the fetal tissue had any impact upon the conduction of nerve impulses in the long ascending white matter tracts. The purpose of this follow-up study is to review the outcomes of the enrolled research subjects at six to nine years post-transplant and to test current levels of pain, sensory and motor impairment, clinical scoring, and status of the syringomyelia cavity.