Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common diseases in the world, affecting 12% of the population. It is a chronic degenerative disease that results in the gradual deterioration of cartilage, the tissue that cushions and lubricates the joints. As the cartilage deteriorates, bones begin to rub against each other, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Common treatments for osteoarthritis include pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, and injections of hyaluronic acid, a substance that helps to lubricate the joints. However, these therapies do not address the underlying cause of the disease and cannot prevent its progression.
Osteoarthritis significantly reduces the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, it is important to develop new therapies that can address the root cause and prevent disease progression. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but stem cell therapy shows promising results in clinical trials.
In multiple studies, patients who received stem cell therapy had a significant reduction in pain and an increase in quality of life compared to those who received a placebo. Stem cell therapy offers hope for a potential treatment for osteoarthritis in the future. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) also offers hope for patients with knee OA.
A study, Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis treatment using autologous adipose derived stem cells and platelet-rich plasma: a clinical study, looked into the potential benefits of stem cell therapy and PRP on knee OA patients.
Results of the Study
The study was created to understand the effects of stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma on knee osteoarthritis patients. A total of 21 patients were enrolled in the study, which was designed with goals of safety and efficacy. The patients had OA from cartilage injury ranging from grade II to III, had not responded to drug treatment or autologous cartilage transplantation, had a Lysholm score lower than 65, and had planned to undergo surgery.
All patients were examined and evaluated 2 weeks before the treatment. All patients were re-evaluated 1, 3, and 6 months after the treatment. The researchers used Lysholm score, change from baseline in quality of life score, number of adverse events reported, and changes from baseline in X-rays of the affected joint to evaluate the effects of stem cell therapy and PRP.
Patients received an injection of stem cells and PRP. The researchers performed the study from early 2012 to early 2013. The results of the study showcased the potential of stem cell therapy and PRP. Patients saw improvements in their VAS Walking Index scores. The study found that patient scores decreased from 7.6 to 3.5 after three months and decreased further to 1.5 after six months. This decrease showcases that stem cells and PRP can reduce pain in knee OA patients.
Patients also saw improvements in their Lysholm scores. Lysholm scores went from 61 to 71 three months after treatment and then further improved to 82 six months after treatment. The researchers reported that all of the patients were happy with their treatment. The patients reported that their pain levels had gradually decreased after receiving the treatment.
The study found that stem cell therapy and PRP are safe for knee OA patients. Patients did not experience any adverse events related to the treatment. The study also found that 15 patients could go up and down stairs three months after treatment. All of the patients can live a normal life and perform all of their daily activities without issue.
The MRI analysis showed that there were fundamental changes in patient cartilage. Six months after receiving the injection, there were improvements in the injured cartilage and even some evidence of regeneration as compared to before the injection. The cartilage layer was thicker as compared to before the treatment.
The researchers believe that stem cells and PRP secrete a number of factors that lead to anti-inflammatory and pain reduction effects. These factors are able to reduce inflammation which can lead to reduced pain. The reduced inflammation may also help contribute to the regeneration of the knee cartilage.
The study showed that stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma were effective in treating knee OA. The treatment was safe and well-tolerated by the patients. There were no severe adverse events reported. The results of the study suggest that stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma are promising treatments for knee OA.
The researchers highlighted the need for additional studies to look further into the potential of these treatments. The medical community will continue to develop new, innovative treatments for knee OA. It appears that stem cells will be a potential treatment for knee OA patients.
