| #ffffff;" /> | | | | 310 patients were still reporting improvements with |
| The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, | | | | respect to pain and joint function. The other 122 |
| remains a therapeutic challenge. | | | | patients pursued other treatments such as surgery, |
| This is a generally felt to be a disease of cartilage. | | | | injections, medication or acupuncture. |
| However, osteoarthritis is a complex disease that | | | | The number of patients requiring further treatment |
| appears to involve a complex series of pathways | | | | was least in the orthokine group. Two years after |
| that include degradation of cartilage, inflammation of | | | | treatment, improvement was still measurable in all |
| the lining of the joint (synovium), and stimulation of | | | | three groups. A clear difference was seen, however, |
| pain pathways through different chemical messenger | | | | in scores on the WOMAC, a questionnaire that is |
| systems. | | | | used in osteoarthritis clinical trials to measure joint |
| While traditional methods including patient education, | | | | function and quality of life. |
| rest, exercise, anti-inflammatory drugs, injections, and | | | | The orthokine treated patients scored 58 on the |
| physical therapy offer temporizing measures, there is | | | | two-year follow-up WOMAC, while the hyaluronic acid |
| still the need for a better solution. | | | | and placebo groups scored higher at 88 and 84 |
| The goals for managing osteoarthritis of the hip and | | | | respectively. Another measure called the visual analog |
| knee are to reduce pain and restore or maintain | | | | scale (VAS) that measures pain from 0 (no pain) to |
| function. | | | | 100 (most intense pain imaginable), was also used. |
| A third and even more daunting task is to regenerate | | | | The average pain level prior to treatment was 70 in |
| new cartilage. There are exciting new developments | | | | all groups. Two years after treatment, the VAS |
| in this area. | | | | score of the orthokine group was 30 compared with |
| The results of a two-year study of osteoarthritis of | | | | 39 in the hyaluronic acid group and 37 in the placebo |
| the knee assessing the safety and efficacy of | | | | group. |
| orthokine therapy was published in the July-August | | | | What is interesting about this study is how well |
| 2008 issue of "Osteoarthritis and Cartilage". | | | | placebo did compared with both hyaluronic acid as |
| Orthokine is a substance derived from a patient's | | | | well as orthokine in relieving pain. Experienced clinicians |
| own blood. Orthokine apparently has significant | | | | have known for decades that there is a significant |
| anti-inflammatory effects. This material is then | | | | placebo effect in just using a needle when it comes |
| injected into the osteoarthritic joint. | | | | to subjective measures such as pain relief. |
| Researchers at Heinrich Heine University in | | | | However, the important issue is whether orthokine or |
| Düsseldorf conducted a two-year study | | | | any other treatment for that matter actually leads to |
| comparing the effects of injections of orthokine, | | | | cartilage regrowth. |
| hyaluronic acid (a standard lubricant used to treat | | | | Much interest has been generated recently on the |
| osteoarthritis), and placebo in 310 arthritis patients. | | | | use of autologous (meaning the patient’s |
| The GOAT study (German Osteoarthritis Trial) was a | | | | own) therapies in managing osteoarthritis as well as |
| randomized, placebo-controlled trial, that included 376 | | | | other degenerative conditions. This therapy is very |
| men and women with an average age of 58. The | | | | similar to the use of platelet rich plasma, which is |
| primary entrance criterion was chronic knee pain | | | | currently being used to treat tendon problems. |
| related to osteoarthritis of the knee. Participants | | | | Platelet rich plasma is derived from the |
| were randomly assigned to one of three treatment | | | | patient’s whole blood using a special |
| groups that received injections of orthokine, | | | | centrifugation technique. |
| hyaluronic acid or saline (placebo). Treatments were | | | | For osteoarthritis, we have found that combining |
| administered as six sessions over three weeks. | | | | autologous stem cells – obtained from bone |
| Patients were evaluated at six weeks, three months, | | | | marrow aspirated from the pelvic bone of the patient |
| six months (double blinded) and then 24 months | | | | using local anesthetic- and platelet rich plasma appears |
| (single blinded). Two years later, 310 participants | | | | to be an effective treatment for the knee and hip. |
| agreed to take part in a follow-up examination. | | | | Both the stem cells as well as the platelet rich plasma |
| After two years, patients treated with orthokine | | | | are injected into the osteoarthritic joint. This |
| scored significantly better than those treated with | | | | combination treatment not only aids in pain relief but |
| hyaluronic acid or placebo on measures of pain and | | | | there also appears to be stimulation of cartilage |
| joint function. | | | | regeneration. |
| The results after two years showed that 188 of the | | | | |