is stem cells therapy for arthritis is safe?

1
Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis Safe and
Effective?
2

• People considering stem cell treatment for
  arthritis want to know Is it safe? and Is it
  effective?
• Stem Cell Therapy Safety
• Most stem cell therapy using adult stem cells is
  considered safe because the stem cells are
  collected from the patient, minimizing the risk
  of an unwanted reaction.
• The most common side effects are temporary
  swelling and pain.1While most stem cell therapy
  for arthritis is considered safe, it does carry
  the same risks as any other medical procedure,
  such as a small risk of infection.
• Risk may be increased if
• A different type of stem cell is used (e.g.
  pluripotent stem cells instead of adult stem
  cells)
• The stem cells are cultured (taken from the
  patient and grown in the lab over time)
• The stem cells are mixed with other chemicals

3
Stem Cell Therapy Safety

• Some research suggests stem cell therapy engaging
  in these kinds of practices may elevate the risk
  of tumors.
• As with most regenerative medicine treatments,
  research is ongoing, and FDA regulations are
  relatively new and subject to change.

4
Stem Cell Therapy Effectiveness

• Whether or not stem cells therapy is effective in
  treating osteoarthritis is a controversial
  subject among medical professionals, and research
  in the area is ongoing.
• How researchers think stem cell therapy works
• Researchers theorize3 that when applied to an
  arthritic joint, stem cells might
• Develop into needed cartilage cells
• Suppress inflammation that can make arthritis
  worse
• Release proteins (cytokines) that slow down
  cartilage degeneration and/or decrease pain

5
Is Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis Safe and
Effective?

• Critics emphasize that there have been no
  large-scale, prospective, double-blind research
  studiesthe kind of clinical studies that medical
  professionals consider the gold standardto
  support stem cell therapy for arthritis.
• Factors that affect stem cell therapy research
• Another challenge associated with current stem
  cell research is that there is no standard stem
  cell therapy for arthritis treatment.
• So the stem cell therapy in one study is not
  necessarily the same as the stem cell therapy in
  another study.

6
Differences can include

• Where the stem cells are harvested from
• How stem cells are separated from the rest of the
  harvested tissue
• How the stem cells are delivered to the arthritic
  joint
• These differences are further complicated by more
  unknowns. For example, how many stem cells are
  needed for a particular treatment? And how do we
  determine if a patients own stem cells are
  competent enough to aid in healing?

7
Stem Cells and PRP

• Many physicians combine the use of stem cells
  with platelet rich plasma, or PRP.
• PRP is derived from a sample of the patients
  blood. In the body, platelets secrete substances
  called growth factors and other proteins that
  regulate cell division, stimulate tissue
  regeneration, and promote healing. Like stem cell
  therapy, PRP therapy is sometimes used alone with
  the hopes of healing an arthritic joint.
• Physicians who use PRP and stem cells together
  think that the PRP can help maximize the healing
  effects of stem cells.

8
Deciding to Have Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis

• Stem cell therapy can vary depending on the
  doctor performing it. People considering stem
  cell therapy for an arthritic knee or other joint
  are advised to ask their doctors questions,
  including
• What is your experience with this treatment?
• If using a stem cell injection, will medical
  imaging be used to ensure accuracy?
• How will my stem cells be harvested?
• How do people with similar joint damage to me
  respond to treatment?
• What are the potential risks and complications?

9
Reference

• https//www.arthritis-health.com/treatment/injecti
  ons/stem-cell-therapy-arthritis-safe-and-effective