OBJECTIVE: To observe the outcomes of umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for treating neural function of multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients.  
METHODS: A total of 20 MSA patients were selected at the Beijing Wu Stem Cells Medical Center from January to October 2008. All patients received treatment of vessel distention, anti-free radical, trophic nerve and cell membrane stabilization, as well as umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell transplantation   intrathecal injection. Patients at left-lateral position, and body bent at hips, knees and necks. Acupuncture was conducted at the space of lumbar vertebra 3 and 4. Following local anesthesia, No. 9 needle was directly pricked into the subarachnoid cavity. 2 mg dexamethasone was slowly infused, and 5 mL (5¡Á106 stem cells) umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell injection was obtained and slowly infused into the subarachnoid cavity within 10 minutes, once per week, four times as a course, totally one course. We adopted Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS) to evaluate those MSA patients. The higher score represented a severe pathogenetic condition.  RESULTS: Compared with pretransplantation, the UMSARS score was significantly decreased in 20 patients 4 weeks following transplantation ( < 0.01). After the treatment, patient's clinical symptoms such as slow movement, balance disturbance, orthostatic hypotension, urinary and bowel disorders had full obvious improvement. Graft versus host disease was not found.  CONCLUSION: It is indicated that mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is effective, can partly improve MSA patients' clinical symptoms, and improve patients'life quality.  

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