ABSTRACT

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a form of immune suppressive/modulating therapy and, similar to other immune drugs, is largely ineffective in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Future autologous HSCT studies performed in SPMS should be limited to SPMS with ongoing disease activity, have a control treatment arm, monitor brain and cervical cord atrophy, and utilize a conditioning regimen that does not increase early post-HSCT central nervous system atrophy as demonstrated on magnetic resonance (MRI).