Preliminary findings from a new clinical trial has indicated that a treatment for arthritis using stem cells may be possible in the near future. Participants in the trial saw a large reduction in the pain they experienced from their arthritis and had an improvement in joint function.
The trial involved patients having autologous stem cells injected into their arthritic knees. The positive results from the trial suggest that a cure for arthritis using stem cells might not be far off.
Lead research Professor Frank Barry said of the results: “It is incredibly exciting. It is our strong belief that stem cell treatment will offer hope for millions of people.”
Osteoarthritis is a very common illness that affects more than one-third of pensioners in the United Kingdom and 14% of people over 25. It occurs when the cartilage that protects joints wears down.
The disease often affects the hands, hips, spine and knees. It is a very painful condition that can be debilitating and often requires the use of pain killers. There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis.
The trial involved taking a small amount of fat from a patient’s body, then separating out the stem cells it contains. The stem cells are then cultured in a laboratory over several weeks before being re-injected into the patient’s knees. 18 patients received a single stem cell injection into their knees as a part of the trial.
Given the success of this first trial, a follow-up trial is already being organised. The second trial will test the procedure on 150 patients from across Europe.
Researchers believe that the trial could lead to an effective treatment for arthritis using stem cells within 5 years. A separate study in Australia also shared very positive results, with 80% of the 400 patients in the trial seeing reduced pain levels and improved joint function.
Source: Stem Cells Hope of Cure for Arthritis in Five Years
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