Cellular therapy for ischemic stroke

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Currently, tPA remains the first (and only) FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Although tPA was a breakthrough, it has a very limited window of administration and a large list of exclusion criteria, and only a small percentage of patients can receive tPA treatment. Additionally, no therapy currently exists to promote CNS repair and recovery following ischemic stroke. The state of clinical therapy and research to date highlights the need for novel approaches for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Cellular therapy, specifically the use of stem cells for cellular augmentation and/or replacement, is a promising novel approach for treatment. Cellular therapy holds promise by providing multiple mechanisms of action combined with a prolonged therapeutic time window of administration to promote CNS repair and recovery. From the sources of stem cells to their mechanisms of action, this chapter outlines the current state of knowledge regarding cellular therapy for stroke.