Chromaffin cell transplantation for neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury: a report of two cases

Lin Chen,1,2 Haitao Xi,1 Juan Xiao,1 Feng Zhang,1 Di Chen,1 Hongyun Huang,1,3 1Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Hongtianji Neuroscience Academy, 2Department of Neurosurgery, Tsinghua University Yuquan Hospital, 3Neurorestoratology Institute, General Hospital of Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces, Beijing, People’s Republic of China Abstract: Neuropathic pain (NP), a common secondary complication following spinal cord injury (SCI), presenting at or below the level of injury is largely refractory to current pharmacological, physical, and surgical treatments. Previous studies have demonstrated the promising value of cell therapy including adrenal chromaffin cells that have the capacity to act as mini-pumps that release amines and peptides for alleviating chronic pain. The paper presents the cases of two gentlemen suffering from severe central NP after thoracic SCI. Six months after chromaffin cell intrathecal injection, their pain relieved significantly. The results demonstrated the preliminary therapeutic efficacy of chromaffin cell transplants in people with NP, and support further research of this treatment strategy for the management of intractable chronic pain due to SCI. Keywords: chromaffin cell, cell transplantation, neuropathic pain, spinal cord injury