Potential Roles of Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Stroke Therapy

Abstract

Stroke is defined as an episode of focal neurologic (brain, retina, spinal cord) dysfunction (even if less than 24 hours in duration) in which the autopsy, computed tomography (CT) brain scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan shows features consistent with focal brain infarction or hemorrhage. Ischemic stroke is responsible for about 80% of all strokes, intra-cerebral hemorrhage for 15% and subarachnoid hemorrhage for 5%. Stroke is a common neurological disorder, it is the second commonest cause of death, and a major cause of disability in survivors. cerebral-vascular disease is globally the sixth commonest cause of an ongoing disease burden, but is expected to move to the fourth place by 2020. Stroke is considered to be one of the important global health problems as 15 million die and another 5 million are left permanently disabled, placing a burden on family and community.