Osteoarthritis is a debilitating, degenerative joint disease, associated with aging, that affects mainly the articular cartilage and is caused by chronic wear and tear, or injury to the cartilage. Osteoarthritis can occur in one joint or multiple joints and most commonly occurs in the knees, hips, fingers and lower spine region. It is the leading cause of pain and disability in the United States affecting approximately 27 million Americans.
There is currently no effective FDA approved treatment for this disease, however, adipose derived stem cell therapy has been shown to be a highly effective treatment. Research into the effectiveness of stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis and other diseases is being conducted globally by many independent companies and physicians. There is no single database collecting all of the information which makes it difficult for the FDA to evaluate its safety and effectiveness based on their strict criteria.
Researchers conducted a complete literature review to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis and their conclusions were published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in June of 2018.
To better understand the results of stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis, a group of researchers conducted a literature review to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis compared to current standard of care. The results of the analysis, stem cell therapy is a safe and effective treatment for osteoarthritis, were published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in June of 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6073660/#!po=26.9231
The combined results of the clinical trials showed stem cells may work by:
- Stimulating local repair
- Stimulating regeneration of damaged joint tissues
- Reduce inflammation and associated pain
- Suppress inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory markers and increasing anti-inflammatory markers
- When stem cells are injected with PRP or growth factors, the growth factors can stimulate stem cells to become chondrocytes with express type II collagen providing strength in the joint
The studies showed adipose derived stem cells, bone marrow derived stem cells and umbilical cord derived stem cells to be safe and effective for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The experts at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute have all three types of stem cells available and work with each patient to establish which option is best based on his or her individual needs. The best option will depend on disease progression, the degree of cartilage loss, the affected joint or joints, and the patient’s expectations.
Advantages of adipose derived stem cells include:
- They are abundant and easy to obtain
- They are highly proliferative
- There is a low risk of rejection
- Cost
Current FDA approved pharmacological therapies for osteoarthritis can produce serious adverse events including; gastrointestinal problems, decreased renal or hepatic function, cardiovascular problems, abnormal liver tests, anemia, addiction, edema, deficits in memory or concentration, and many more. While surgery is not suitable for patients under 55 and recovery from surgery can take up to one year. Additionally, surgery is associated with severe adverse events including; blood clots, pulmonary embolism, infection, nerve or other tissue damage, heart attack, stroke, bleeding and pain. Pain relief from a hyaluronic acid injection is limited, requiring injections every 6 months and reduced efficacy over time. PRP, or platelet rich plasma therapy has been shown to be more effective than HA and is very effective when used in combination with stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy can be utilized to treat all joints, is minimally invasive and treatment can be safely repeated if necessary. Stem cell therapy at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute may be a safer and more effective treatment alternative.
Stem cell therapy in the United States remains unapproved by the FDA, but stem cell therapy at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute in Costa Rica, can reduce your pain and improve the function of your affected joint significantly improving your quality of life. Don’t suffer any longer. Let us help you feel better and enjoy life more fully. Contact the Stem Cells Transplant Institute today.
Reference:
Damia E, Chicharro D, Lopez S, et al. Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Are They a Good Therapeutic Strategy for Osteoarthritis?. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1926. Published 2018 Jun 30. doi:10.3390/ijms19071926.
