OBJECTIVETo assess the efficiency and safety of human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) transplantation in the treatment of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) in children.

METHODSTwenty-two children with PDD were treated, including 13 children with Rett syndrome and 9 children with autism. They accepted hNPCs transplantation voluntarily. hNPCs derived from aborted fetal tissue were injected into the lateral ventricle of the patients under supersonic guidance. All patients were assessed according to the Autism Behavior Checklist before operation, at one and six months post operation, and one year later.

RESULTSNo delayed complications resulting from this therapy were observed. The clinical symptoms of 17 patients, including 8 patients with autism and 9 patients with Rett syndrome, improved in varying degrees. The assessment results of the Autism Behavior Checklist for children with autism showed that compared with pre-operative function, social communication scores were significantly reduced at six months after transplantation, and total scores and social communication and language scores were also significantly reduced 1 year after transplantation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that hNPCs transplantation is effective and safe for treatment of PPD in children. It deserves a further study.