ALL STEM CELLS

Stem cell based therapies for osteoarthritis

— 2015-05-19

Various Stem cell-based therapies researches for osteoarthritis are undergoing.

Regenerative medicine offers the exciting potential of developing alternatives to total joint replacement for treating osteoarthritis (OA). In this article, we highlight recent work that addresses key challenges of stem cell-based therapies for OA and provide examples of innovative ways in which stem cells can aid in the treatment of OA.

The Osteoarthritis Stem Cell Advanced Research Study in Australia.

This trial is investigating the use of stem cells from the patient’s own fat in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
This trial being jointly conducted by the Rheumatology Department of the Royal North Shore Hospital St Leonards in New South Wales and Regeneus Pty Ltd. A Randomised Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Study Of The Efficacy And Safety Of Autologous Non-Expanded Adipose Derived Stem Cells In The Treatment Of Knee Osteoarthritis.
Stem cells were isolated following liposuction and injected directly into patient’s knee. Participants will be monitored for complications and assessed for changes in their clinical condition. The study commenced in February 2011 and has enrolled 40 subjects. The trial is still open but not recruiting any further subjects. A single 5mL injection into the knee joint space of cell suspension, which includes autologous adipose derived stem cells and sterile normal saline. On average 50million cells are injected.
Adipose (fat) tissue is removed by lipo-aspiration (this may take up to 80 minutes). The fat is processed on-site to isolate the cells (this process takes up to 2 hours). The suspension of stem cells is injected into the knee joint under ultrasound guidance. (about 20 minutes).

Aged over 40 years
Knee pain on most days of the last month
OARSI Grade 1 or 2 with joint space narrowing in either medial or lateral compartments or
Osteophyte grade 2 or 3 in medial or lateral compartment without Joint Space Narrowing
Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis as measured by a pain score of at least 42 on the Numerical Rating Scale.
Results are yet to be published