The University of Health Network in Toronto utilized stem cells derived from a person's own bone marrow during total knee replacements, reports Weekend Switzer, a daily news website focusing on business and finance.
The therapy, which requires bone marrow aspiration to harvest mesenchymal stem cells focused on 12 people with moderately severe knee osteoarthritis and used one of three different doses of the mesenchymal stem cells.
Four key insights:
1. The levels of inflammatory biomarkers, rate of cartilage breakdown, general review of the knee with an MRI scan and questionnaires to determine level of pain, impairment and mobility were measured over a 12-month period.
2. Researchers noted sizeable pain reduction and improved quality of life.
3. There was a significant inflammatory markers reduction but no cartilage regrowth, which suggests the improvements are likely from anti-inflammatory chemicals via the mesenchymal stem cells.
4. Several similar studies have illustrated promise in this method but all studies resulted in no significant cartilage regrowth.