Overview

Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions that affect movement and posture. It's caused by damage that occurs to the developing brain, most often before birth.

Symptoms appear during infancy or preschool years and vary from very mild to serious. Children with cerebral palsy may have exaggerated reflexes. The arms, legs and trunk may appear floppy. Or they may have stiff muscles, known as spasticity. Symptoms also can include irregular posture, movements that can't be controlled, a walk that's not steady or some combination of these.

Cerebral palsy may make it hard to swallow. It also can cause eye muscle imbalance, in which the eyes don't focus on the same object. People with the condition might have reduced range of motion in their joints due to muscle stiffness.

The cause of cerebral palsy and its effect on function vary from person to person. Some people with cerebral palsy can walk while others need assistance. Some people have intellectual disabilities, but others do not. Epilepsy, blindness or deafness also might affect some people with cerebral palsy. There is no cure, but treatments can help improve function. The symptoms of cerebral palsy may vary during the child's development, but the condition doesn't get worse. The condition generally stays the same over time.

Symptoms

Symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary greatly. In some people, cerebral palsy affects the whole body. In other people, symptoms might only affect one or two limbs or one side of the body. General symptoms include trouble with movement and coordination, speech and eating, development, and other issues.

Movement and Coordination

• Stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes, known as spasticity. This is the most common movement condition related to cerebral palsy.
• Variations in muscle tone, such as being either too stiff or too floppy.
• Stiff muscles with regular reflexes, known as rigidity.
• Lack of balance and muscle coordination, known as ataxia.
• Jerky movements that can't be controlled, known as tremors.
• Slow, writhing movements.
• Favoring one side of the body, such as only reaching with one hand or dragging a leg while crawling.
• Trouble walking. People with cerebral palsy may walk on their toes or crouch down when they walk. They also may have a scissors-like walk with their knees crossing. Or they may have a wide gait or a walk that's not steady.
• Trouble with fine motor skills, such as buttoning clothes or picking up utensils.

Speech and Eating

• Delays in speech development.
• Trouble speaking.
• Trouble with sucking, chewing or eating.
• Drooling or trouble with swallowing.

Development

• Delays in reaching motor skills milestones, such as sitting up or crawling.
• Learning disabilities.
• Intellectual disabilities.
• Delayed growth, resulting in smaller size than would be expected.

Other Symptoms

• Seizures, which are symptoms of epilepsy. Children with cerebral palsy may be diagnosed with epilepsy.
• Trouble hearing.
• Trouble with vision and changes in eye movements.
• Pain or trouble feeling sensations such as touch.
• Bladder and bowel issues, including constipation and urinary incontinence.
• Mental health conditions, such as emotional conditions and behavior issues.

The brain condition causing cerebral palsy doesn't change with time. Symptoms usually don't worsen with age. However, as the child gets older, some symptoms might become more or less clear. And muscle shortening and muscle rigidity can worsen if not treated aggressively.

The Latest Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria for AUTOLOGOUS Cell Therapy for Cerebral Palsy in PFICell's Trials

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy: A confirmed diagnosis of CP, categorized into spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, or mixed forms.
• Age Range: Typically, children or young adults, often between 1 and 30 years of age, depending on the study.
• Severity of Condition: Mild to moderate severity levels, typically assessed using functional scales like the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).
• Stable Neurological Condition: no recent significant neurological events and stable medical conditions for at least a few months prior to treatment.
• Informed Consent: The ability for a legal guardian to provide informed consent, or assent from the patient if they are of appropriate age and capacity.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe Comorbidities: Significant comorbid medical conditions such as uncontrolled epilepsy or severe cardiac/respiratory issues.
• Severe Cognitive Impairment: Significant intellectual disability that would hinder the ability to participate in the treatment or follow-up.
• Current Medical Treatment: Certain ongoing treatments or medications (e.g., immunosuppressive therapy) that may affect stem cell harvest or therapy outcomes.
• Pregnancy: Exclusion of pregnant individuals or those planning to become pregnant during the study period.
• Active Infections: Presence of active infections or serious illness at the time of treatment.
• Severe Skeletal or Muscular Abnormalities: Conditions that may interfere with the procedure or recovery and significantly impact quality of life.
• Malignant Conditions: A history of malignancy, especially hematologic cancers that would compromise safety.
• Significant Behavioral Issues: Severe behavioral problems that could affect compliance with the treatment protocol or follow-up assessments.