Effects of cell therapy on seizures in animal models of epilepsy: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Abstract
This study was undertaken to systematically evaluate the efficacy of cell therapy in reducing seizures in animal models of chronic epilepsy. Three databases, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and Web of Science, were searched using predetermined eligibility criteria. The relevant preclinical controlled studies were included for review and meta‐analysis using a random‐effects model to calculate summary estimates of the effect size (percentage reduction in seizures). The degree of heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using the I2 statistic. Subgroup meta‐analysis and meta‐regression were performed to further elucidate the sources of heterogeneity. Thirty published studies met the eligibility criteria, including a total of 1306 animals. The majority of studies used kainic acid and pilocarpine status epilepticus models of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). The random effects model revealed an overall reduction in seizure frequency of 54.8% (95% confidence interval = 48.0558–61.5455) compared to the control, and the heterogeneity was 87.1% among the included studies. The meta‐regression revealed that seven study characteristics significantly accounted for the between‐study heterogeneity. They can be grouped into three broad categories: epilepsy‐specific, animal‐specific, and cell transplantation‐specific. The greatest seizure reduction was observed in the post‐kainic acid status epilepticus model of chronic MTLE, when the cells were delivered intravenously and when…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in animal, not in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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