By Robert Ashley, M.D.
A: "Worn out" is a good way to term what happens to the knee joint with prolonged use. Let's look at how this happens, starting with cartilage.
The lower portion of the knee joint (at the tibia) contains shock absorbers called menisci made of cartilage. You have one on the inner portion and another on the outer portion of each knee. The upper portion of the knee joint (at the femur) is lined with cartilage as well. All of this cartilage helps protect the bones at the joint but it doesn't heal or regenerate well due to limited blood supply. When severe, worn cartilage leads to arthritis of the knee. In knee X-rays of people over the age of 60, 37 percent have shown evidence of arthritis of the knees.
The intriguing thing about stem cells is that they have the ability to become any type of cell that the body needs. The cells used for stem cell injections in the knees are called mesenchymal stem cells, and they can differentiate into bone, fat or cartilage cells. These stem cells can come from the fat cells of your body, from your bone marrow or from the inner lining of your knee joint; they're then replicated in the laboratory and injected into the knee joint.
Here's what the research shows so far ...
In a 2013 study, 32 patients with meniscal tears of the knee were injected with a combination of stem cells, platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid. The study reported improved symptoms and even MRI evidence of meniscal cartilage regeneration.
In a 2014 study, 55 patients who had surgery for meniscal tears of the knees were separated into three groups, with two of the groups receiving stem cell injections. Researchers found that, after six weeks, pain had decreased substantially in the two groups that received stem cell injections and that the decrease was even greater at one and two years after the injection.
In a 2017 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers analyzed six studies that used stem cells for osteoarthritis of the knees. In five of the studies, stem cells were given after surgery to the knee; in the other study, stem cells from a donor were administered without surgery. All the studies showed reduced pain and improved knee function. Further, in three of the four trials, MRIs corroborated the cartilage improvements. However, the authors noted, five of the six studies were of such poor methodology that an overall conclusion about the stem cells' effectiveness could not be made.
In all these studies, the most common side effect was knee swelling and stiffness, which improved over time.
There may be benefit to stem cell injections for cartilage loss of the knees, but more data are needed, especially in those who aren't having surgery of the knee. I'd also like to see more data on this type of therapy as a preventive measure for younger patients before their knees are worn out.
Robert Ashley, M.D., is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o Media Relations, UCLA Health, 924 Westwood Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
See the rest here:
Ask the Doctors: Stem cell therapy may help worn-out knees - Berkshire Eagle (subscription)
- Goodie Mob - Cell Therapy Instrumental - April 2nd, 2011 [April 2nd, 2011]
- Dogged by pain -- stem cell therapy for dogs - April 3rd, 2011 [April 3rd, 2011]
- SIRA: Could Stem Cell Therapy Renew Your Body Cells? – Affordable ... - April 22nd, 2011 [April 22nd, 2011]
- SIRA: Could Stem Cell Therapy Renew Your Body Cells? - April 22nd, 2011 [April 22nd, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Kidney Failure - May 13th, 2011 [May 13th, 2011]
- Dogs now getting stem cell therapy - May 19th, 2011 [May 19th, 2011]
- Goodie Mob - Cell Therapy Official Music Video (VJ CodyDietz.com ReMiX) - May 20th, 2011 [May 20th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Autism - May 20th, 2011 [May 20th, 2011]
- Dog Undergoes Stem Cell Therapy - May 20th, 2011 [May 20th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Cerebral Palsy - May 22nd, 2011 [May 22nd, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Type II Diabetes - May 31st, 2011 [May 31st, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy Success - May 31st, 2011 [May 31st, 2011]
- Heart Failure Patient After Adult Stem Cell Therapy - June 1st, 2011 [June 1st, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis - June 3rd, 2011 [June 3rd, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Critical Limb Ischemia - June 12th, 2011 [June 12th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy Cream: Less Wrinkles In 30 Days or Less Anti-Wrinkle Cream That Works - June 12th, 2011 [June 12th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis - June 13th, 2011 [June 13th, 2011]
- Clinical Advances in Adult Stem Cell Therapy: Dr. Jorge Paz - June 17th, 2011 [June 17th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Injection Treatment - Stem Cell Therapy - June 21st, 2011 [June 21st, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury - Injured Airline Pilot Flies Again - July 1st, 2011 [July 1st, 2011]
- Documentary: Stem Cell Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy - Ryan Benton's Story - July 1st, 2011 [July 1st, 2011]
- Documentary: Stem Cell Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy - Ryan Benton's Story - July 1st, 2011 [July 1st, 2011]
- XCell-Center Stem Cell Therapy Christmas Video 2010 - July 2nd, 2011 [July 2nd, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Stroke - Gary Steinberg, Stanford University - July 9th, 2011 [July 9th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy Injections - July 9th, 2011 [July 9th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy MS: Sam Harrell and The Superbowl - July 13th, 2011 [July 13th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Advances - Dr. Jorge Paz in San Diego, CA March 2011 - July 14th, 2011 [July 14th, 2011]
- Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS): UCSD Team's Stem Cell Therapy Rationale - July 15th, 2011 [July 15th, 2011]
- Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS): UCSD Team's Stem Cell Therapy Rationale - July 15th, 2011 [July 15th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy--Hillcrest Animal Hospital - July 18th, 2011 [July 18th, 2011]
- Regenerative Medicine With Stem Cell Therapy Injections at an Arizona pain clinic (602) 507-6550 - July 19th, 2011 [July 19th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Aspiration - Stem Cell Therapy - July 19th, 2011 [July 19th, 2011]
- The New World of Medicine: Stem Cell Therapy - July 29th, 2011 [July 29th, 2011]
- Post Stem Cell Therapy Video for Cerebral Palsy - August 3rd, 2011 [August 3rd, 2011]
- Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS): Stem Cell Therapy - A Patient's Perspective - August 5th, 2011 [August 5th, 2011]
- Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS): Stem Cell Therapy - A Patient's Perspective - August 5th, 2011 [August 5th, 2011]
- Stroke Victim Improved With Stem Cell Therapy. More at http://www.stemcellfusion.com - August 9th, 2011 [August 9th, 2011]
- WAVE3 News Adipose Stem Cell Therapy - August 14th, 2011 [August 14th, 2011]
- Embryonic stem cell therapy in China (www.esctherapy.com) - August 17th, 2011 [August 17th, 2011]
- Ying Liu discusses IPS cell therapy for ALS - August 17th, 2011 [August 17th, 2011]
- KO Clancy - August 24th, 2011 [August 24th, 2011]
- Stem cell therapy in Guatemala - (closer than China) - August 26th, 2011 [August 26th, 2011]
- ATP Cell Therapy - August 27th, 2011 [August 27th, 2011]
- Dr. Craig Saunders Adult Stem Cell Therapy - August 28th, 2011 [August 28th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury - Stem Cell Therapy - August 29th, 2011 [August 29th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy For Alzheimer's/Dementia - September 13th, 2011 [September 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy For Alzheimer's/Dementia - September 13th, 2011 [September 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy (Regenerative Medicine) in New Jersey - September 17th, 2011 [September 17th, 2011]
- Clinical Advances in Adult Stem Cell Therapy - Dr. Jorge Paz Rodriguez (Miami) - September 23rd, 2011 [September 23rd, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy Skin Repair and Anti-Wrinkle Cream - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy - September 26th, 2011 [September 26th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis - September 26th, 2011 [September 26th, 2011]
- SENS5 - Cellular Therapy for Intestinal Regeneration - September 29th, 2011 [September 29th, 2011]
- channel 10 news stem cell therapy for hair loss part 2.flv - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Multiple Sclerosis Stem Cell Therapy News Coverage - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Stem-Cell-Therapy-in-China.wmv - October 5th, 2011 [October 5th, 2011]
- Adickes: Stem cell therapy - October 5th, 2011 [October 5th, 2011]
- Don Reed: Why we need new stem cell therapies and how you can help - October 5th, 2011 [October 5th, 2011]
- Repair Your Joint Injuries With Stem Cell Therapy | Los Angeles | Beverly Hills | Hollywood - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Repair Your Joint Injuries With Stem Cell Therapy | Los Angeles | Beverly Hills | Hollywood - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Ovation Cell Therapy Review (request) - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Glazer's Edge: Peyton's Stem Cells - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Glazer's Edge: Peyton's Stem Cells - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- The Spinal Cord Journey - Stem cell therapy stories from three spinal cord injury patients - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Goodie Mob - Cell Therapy - Video - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- Randolph veterinarian uses new stem cell therapy on ailing pets - Video - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Autism - Video - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- 1 month after using Ovation Hair Cell Therapy and the results are...... - Video - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Series: Part 1 - Video - October 15th, 2011 [October 15th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis (MS patient) - Video - October 15th, 2011 [October 15th, 2011]
- Affordable Stem Cell Therapy in Guatemala (2hrs from Miami) - Video - October 16th, 2011 [October 16th, 2011]
- Duffy Update, Post Stem Cell Therapy - Video - October 18th, 2011 [October 18th, 2011]
- Duffy Gets Stem Cell Therapy - Video - October 18th, 2011 [October 18th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Therapy for Congestive Heart Failure - October 20th, 2011 [October 20th, 2011]
- CELL THERAPY - Video - October 23rd, 2011 [October 23rd, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy in Cardiac Disease - Video - October 25th, 2011 [October 25th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis - Community Outreach Dallas - Darnell Morris - Video - October 25th, 2011 [October 25th, 2011]
- UMBILICAL CORD STEM CELL THERAPY - Video - October 27th, 2011 [October 27th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis Stimulates IDO - Video - October 27th, 2011 [October 27th, 2011]
- Goodie Mob - Cell Therapy ( Killuminati Music ) - Video - October 27th, 2011 [October 27th, 2011]