Autologous Cord Blood Cell Therapy for Neonatal Encephalopathy

A Pilot Feasibility and Safety Study of Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Cell Therapy in Infants With Neonatal Encephalopathy

This is a pilot study to test feasibility and safety of intravenous infusion of autologous umbilical cord blood cells in the first 72 hours after birth if a neonate is born with signs of encephalopathy.

This is a multicenter pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and safety of intravenous infusions of autologous (the patient's own) umbilical cord blood cells in term gestation newborns with neonatal encephalopathy (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy). If a neonate is born with signs of moderate to severe encephalopathy and cooled for the encephalopathy, the neonate can receive their own non-cryopreserved volume- and red blood cell-reduced cord blood cells. The cord blood cells are divided into 3 doses and infused at 12-24, 36-48, and 60-72 hours after the birth. Infants will be followed for safety and neurodevelopmental outcome up to 18 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

Infants are eligible if they meet all the following inclusion criteria except 4.

1. ≥36 weeks gestation
2. Either a 10-minute Apgar score ≤5, continued need for resuscitation for at least 10 minutes, or severe acidosis, defined as pH <7.0 or base deficit ≥16 mmol/L in a sample of umbilical cord blood or any blood during the first hour after birth
3. Moderate to severe encephalopathy (Sarnat II to III)
4. A moderately or severely abnormal background amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) voltage, or seizures identified by aEEG, if monitored
5. Up to 24 hours of age
6. Autologous umbilical cord blood available to infuse within 3 days after birth
7. A person with parental authority must have consented for the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Known major congenital anomalies, such as chromosomal anomalies, heart diseases
2. Major intracranial hemorrhage identified by brain ultrasonography or computed tomography
3. Severe growth restriction, with birth-weight less than 1800 g
4. Severe infectious disease, such as sepsis
5. Hyperkalemia
6. Outborn infants (Infants born at hospitals other than the study sites)
7. Volume of collected cord blood <40 ml
8. Infants judged critically ill and unlikely to benefit from neonatal intensive care by the attending neonatologist