BACKGROUND:Many studies have showed that neural stem cells therapy is a new strategy for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
OBJECTIVE:To review and analyze the status of research, transplantation strategies and mechanism of neural stem cells therapy for treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
METHODS:A computer-based retrieval was performed in PubMed and CNKI database to search papers published from August 2000 to August 2013 using the key words of“hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, neural stem cells”in English and Chinese. The papers with objective-independent and repetitive contents were excluded, and final y 39 papers were included for final analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Neural stem celltransplantation can promote recovery of neurological function, which brings new hope to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy patients. But the study is at a primary stage and limited in laboratory. There are many critical factors that hinder the clinical transplantation, such as delivery path, transplantation time, single or combined transplantation, mechanisms of action. Application of neural stem cells requires further investigation.