Efficacy and safety of intra-articular mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #Meta-analysis
- #Mesenchymal stem cells
- #Knee osteoarthritis
- Intra-articular mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies show modest improvements in pain and function for knee osteoarthritis (OA).
- MSC therapies significantly improved pain (ΔVAS, post-treatment VAS, KOOS pain) and function (KOOS ADL, sports, symptoms).
- Benefits were more consistent with culture-expanded preparations, bone marrow sources, saline controls, and ultrasound guidance.
- No significant structural improvements were observed on MRI (WORMS scores).
- Higher rates of local adverse events (injection-site pain, joint swelling) were reported, but serious complications were rare.
- Current evidence supports MSC therapies as symptom-modifying rather than disease-modifying for knee OA.
- Larger, standardized trials are needed to optimize preparations and identify ideal patient profiles.