Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

Freitag J, Bates D, Wickham J, et al. · Regenerative Medicine

Both cell groups reported clinically significant pain and functional improvement at 12 months; MRI suggested modification of disease progression in the two-injection group.

Population

30 adults with symptomatic knee OA

Intervention

Culture-expanded autologous ADMSCs: single 100-million-cell injection, or two injections (baseline and 6 months)

Comparator

Conservative management (no injection)

Limitations

Unblinded control arm (no sham injection) — placebo effect uncontrolled; small n; author-affiliated private regenerative-medicine clinic.