Safety and Efficacy of Allogenic Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study

Background and Aim: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common skeletalimpairment which can cause many limitations in normal life activities.Stem cell therapy has been studied for decades for their regenerativepotency. Different sources and doses of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)in varying delivery systems have been investigated for treating OA. Weinvestigated the safety and efficacy of intra-articular placental MSCs inknee OA healing.Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, twentypatients with symptomatic knee OA were randomly divided into twogroups to receive an intra-articular injection of either MSCs or saline. Thevisual analog scale, Knee OA Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire, kneeflexion range of motion (ROM), and magnetic resonance arthrographywere evaluated for 24 weeks post-treatment. Blood laboratory tests wereperformed before and 2 weeks after treatment.Results: There were no serious adverse effects except self-limited acutepost-injection events such as mild effusion and increased local pain whichimproved in 48 hours. There was a significant knee ROM improvementand pain reduction started early after treatment. Improved quality of life,the activity of daily living, sport/recreational activity, and decreased OAsymptoms were noted post-treatment which were clinically and staticallysignificant until 8 weeks but were only clinically significant in 24 weekspost-treatment. Chondral thickness was improved in about 10% of thetotal knee joint area in the intervention group in 24 weeks. There wasno significant healing in the medial/lateral meniscus or anterior cruciateligament.Conclusion: Single intra-articular allogenic placental MSC injection canalleviate joint pain and increase ROM in knee OA safely and effectively.

کلیدواژه ها:

Allogen ، Placenta ، Mesenchymal stem cell ، Osteoarthritis