Improved Bowel Function in Patients with Spina Bifida After Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Cell Transplantation: A Report of 2 Cases

Am J Case Rep. 2018 Aug 25:19:1010-1018. doi: 10.12659/AJCR.909801.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Bowel dysfunction is observed in 42.2-71.2% of patients with spina bifida. Traditional treatments yield limited results. The objective of this paper is to report on improvement in bowel function in 2 children with spina bifida following bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells transplantation. CASE REPORT Two patients - 14 years old and 11 years old - with bowel dysfunction after myelomeningocele repair underwent 2 BMMNC transplantations without complications. Those patients had normal defecation, assessed through follow-ups of 21 months and 16 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS BMMNC transplantation can improve bowel function, as demonstrated in 2 patients with spina bifida.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Child
  • Constipation / etiology
  • Constipation / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Spinal Dysraphism / complications
  • Spinal Dysraphism / therapy*