MSC Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis
Clinical effect of intra-articular WJ-MSC treatment in adults with Knee Osteoarthritis — Retrospective cohort observational study.
35
Knees Treated
19 patients total
Feb 2020 – Apr 2023
Study Period
6-month follow-up
89%
VAS Pain Reduction
31 knees improved
No SAEs
Safety Profile
No serious adverse events
Study Overview
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease that progresses over time, resulting in pain and limited functionality. This retrospective cohort study analyzed the clinical effects of intra-articular Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stromal cell (WJ-MSC) therapy in 19 patients (35 target knees).
Each patient received a single dose of 40×10⁶ WJ-MSCs per target knee. Clinical outcomes were measured using VAS (Visual Analog Scale), WOMAC (Western Ontario & McMaster Index), and SF-12 health questionnaires at baseline and 6 months post-treatment.
The median patient age was 59 years (IQR=18), with 94.7% male. The median time from KOA diagnosis to treatment was 15.4 years. The study received ethical approval (CEI-0435-11-2022).
Pain Assessment (VAS)
The Visual Analog Scale measures pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain).
Pre-therapy median VAS
5 (IQR=2)
6-month median VAS
4 (IQR=2.5) p<0.001
In 31 target knees (89%), the VAS score improved compared to baseline (p<0.001).
Response to Therapy (WOMAC)
The WOMAC index evaluates pain, stiffness, and physical function in knee osteoarthritis.
| WOMAC Domain | Pre-therapy | 6 Months | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Score | 37 (IQR=26.5) | 27 (IQR=18.5) | 0.022 |
| Pain Score | 7 (IQR=5) | 4 (IQR=5) | <0.001 |
| Functionality Score | 24 (IQR=20.5) | 21 (IQR=13) | 0.045 |
16 knees (46%) achieved ≥20% improvement in WOMAC-general score, meeting the therapy response threshold.
Quality of Life (SF-12)
Health-related quality of life measured by the SF-12 questionnaire (0–100, higher = better).
SF-12 Mental Score Improvement
52.38 → 64.28 (p=0.003)
Global SF-12 Improvement
78% of patients (p=0.009)
Note: Changes in SF-12 physical score were not statistically significant (p=0.971).
Clinical Data
Kellgren-Lawrence Grade
| Grade | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | 16 | 46% |
| Moderate | 14 | 40% |
| Severe | 5 | 14% |
KOA Location
| Location | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Tricompartmental | 26 | 74% |
| Medial | 4 | 11% |
| Patellofemoral | 2 | 6% |
| Tibiofemoral | 2 | 6% |
| Lateral | 1 | 3% |
Conclusion
Intra-articular delivery of WJ-MSCs was safe and effective in treating knee osteoarthritis with no reported serious adverse events. Significant improvements were observed in pain (VAS p<0.001), WOMAC scores (p=0.022), and mental quality of life (SF-12 mental p=0.003).
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