Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Treatment Alleviates Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms: A Case Report

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with significant lifelong challenges for severely affected children and their families. The condition remains poorly understood, and no reliable, effective treatments are available. Presented is a case of a boy with severe ASD, epilepsy, and a pathological electroencephalogram (EEG) who underwent five treatments between the ages of 5.75 years and nine years with mesenchymal stem cells from allogeneic placenta and umbilical cord tissue of unrelated donors. A significant clinical response was observed following each course, including the disappearance of seizures, normalization of the EEG after the first course, and continuously improved ASD symptoms, social skills, and emotional expression. Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells might offer an attractive innovative modality for some children with ASD and may prove a promising therapy for children with seizure disorders. Clinical research directions are presented to develop these innovative treatments and design future research.