Umbilical Cord Blood Infusion Found Safe and Potentially Beneficial in Young Children with Autism: Study

A newly published clinical study has reported that autologous umbilical cord blood infusion using a child own’s stored core blood is very safe for young children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and may be associated with overall improvements in a subset of children during long term follow up.

The study followed 20 children aged between 2 and 6 years over a period of 18 months, making it one of the more comprehensive safeties focussed investigations in this emerging area of research. Nineteen children completed the full study, highlighting both the feasibility of the procedure and practicality of sustained monitoring.

According to study children were observed for six months prior to any medical intervention and were then followed for another twelve months after a single intravenous infusion of their own umbilical cord blood. Tools were used to assess the safety and outcomes including caregiver reports, clinical assessments, behavioural evaluations and developmental testing. The average cell dose administered was 38 million cells per kilogram.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Aditi Kundoo, Medical Director, Cryoviva Life Sciences, India said, “This study is important because it clearly distinguishes safety from misperceptions. At Cyroviva life sciences we find these results encouraging. The findings demonstrate that autologous cord blood infusion can be administered safely in young children when conducted within a regulated and ethically approved clinical framework.” added Dr Kundoo.

Experts note that, science is evolving and cord blood derived stem cells are increasingly being explored as potential clinical intervention for a range of developmental disorders including autism and cerebral palsy. In study outcomes clinicians rated 12 out of 19 children as minimal to much improved in the overall symptoms. Parents and Clinicians also reported that where the improvement occurred it was often reflected in better day-to-day behaviour, engagement and overall functioning, outcomes that matter the most to the families.

It does not establish, cord blood as definitive treatment, it lays the foundation for targeted clinical trials aimed at identifying therapies that can be responsibly refined.