BACKGROUND: Previous animal studies demonstrated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells could differentiate into nerve cells under a certain condition; however, the clinical application for treating nervous system disease has been less reported. OBJECTIVE: To observe a short-term effect of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on treating cerebral hemorrhage.METHODS: A total of 32 patients with cerebral hemorrhage who were selected from the Department of Neurosurgery, Liaocheng Brain Hospital between November 2007 and January 2009 were considered as a treatment group. According to general data and the amount of hematoma, they were treated by drilling drainage or hematoma evacuation. Drainage tubes were detained into hematoma cavity, and 3.5 mL autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell suspension was injected through drainage tube. A total of 40 additional patients who did not treated with stem cell transplantation were considered as a control group. Neurologic impairment (NIHSS) and activities of daily living (Barthel index) were performed before and 6 months after transplantation; meanwhile, the brain MRI, serum biochemical and tumor marker were evaluated to detect security of stem cell transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The NIHSS score and Barthel index in the treatment group were similar to those in the control group before transplantation. Compared with control group, NIHSS scores were significantly decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.01), but Barthel index was significantly increased 6 months after transplantation (P < 0.01). Compared with before transplantation, NIHSS score were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), but Barthel index was significantly increased in the treatment group 6 months after transplantation (P < 0.01). Two patients in the treatment group had febrile, which was recovered after treatment. The following-up 6 months after transplantation demonstrated that brain MRI and biochemical indicators were normal except an increasing of CA-153 caused by lung cancer in one patient. The autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for treatment of cerebral hemorrhage is safe and effective in a short-term period; however the long-term effect still needs to be further studied.