Trial reportNeurology2026
Intrathecal Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (SMART-MS).
Trial report in Neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04749667 (Study of Mesenchymal Autologous Stem Cells as Regenerative Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Study of Mesenchymal Autologous Stem Cells as Regenerative Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases: Clinical Evidence, Therapeutic Niches, and Translational Boundaries.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Review
- Effect of intrathecal injection of mesenchymal stem cell-neural progenitors on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in progressive multiple sclerosis.Stem cells translational medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
25 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesThere is an unmet need for neuroregenerative therapies in multiple sclerosis (MS). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown immunomodulatory and regenerative effects in preclinical models and early clinical studies. Intrathecal administration may enhance therapeutic potential by direct delivery to the CNS. However, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed to establish safety and efficacy. The objective of this trial was to assess whether a single intrathecal administration of autologous MSCs could provide evidence of a neuroregenerative effect in progressive MS.
methodsIn this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase I/II trial (NCT04749667), patients with progressive MS enrolled at 4 Norwegian tertiary hospitals received a single intrathecal injection of autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs (1 × 10
resultsA total of 18 patients were included (mean age 46.7 years; 55.6% female). No significant between-group difference was observed for the primary end point (β = -0.31, 95% CI -1.84 to 1.22, DISCUSSION: A neuroregenerative effect was not detected, although interpretation may be limited by the small sample size. Adverse events suggest an acute localized inflammatory reaction after MSC administration. Our findings suggest that intrathecal administration of MSCs in progressive MS should be approached with caution in future studies. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class III evidence that, in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis, treatment with a single intrathecal administration of autologous mesenchymal stem cells does not provide neuroregenerative effect, as assessed by a composite evoked potential score.
trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04749667); registered February 8, 2021; first patient enrolled August 9, 2021.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.