Pseudo-effect algebras are partial algebras (E; +, 0, 1) with a partially defined addition + which is not necessary commutative and with two complements, left and right ones. We define central elements of a pseudo-effect algebra and the centre, which in the case of MV-algebras coincides with the set of Boolean elements and in the case of effect algebras with the Riesz decomposition property central elements are only characteristic elements. If E satisfies general comparability, then E is a pseudo MV-algebra. Finally, we apply central elements to obtain a variation of the Cantor-Bernstein theorem for pseudo-effect algebras.