Arthritis is a condition that affects millions of individuals across the globe and it leads to chronic pain, stiffness and limited mobility that may greatly affect everyday life. To patients who have endured conventional therapies without the permanent relief, stem cell therapy has come out as a ray of hope that could actually restore damaged tissue in the joint instead of just alleviating symptoms.
Learning about Stem Cell Therapy to Repair Joints
Stem cell therapy in arthritis involves implantation of damaged joints with specialized cells which have the natural capacity to stimulate healing and regeneration. In contrast to traditional methods of treatment, which are based on pain relief, stem cell therapy is directed at curing the origin of arthritis, possibly restoring cartilage and eliminating inflammation.
Mesenchymal stem cells are especially useful in the treatment of arthritis since they have various healing mechanisms. These cells are able to develop into cartilage cells, secrete growth factors that help in repairing tissue and regulate the immune system to suppress inflammation. Studies have established that when these stem cells are injected into arthritic joints, they self-migrate to damaged regions and initiate the regeneration process.
The Umbilical Cord-Derived Stem Cell Promising
These types of facilities such as this Cayman Islands stem cell clinic focus on the use of mesenchymal stem cells which are a product of human umbilical cord tissue, which has proven to be of excellent promise in the treatment of degenerative joints.
The Umbilical cord-derived stem cells have a number of advantages over the stem cells of other sources such as high proliferation capacity, better immunomodulatory traits, and no ethical issue because they are obtained out of medical waste.
The effectiveness of the umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat arthritis has been proven across several studies. A systematic review revealed that patients that were treated with umbilical cord stem cell therapy reported a substantial reduction in pain scales, functional scales, and quality of life.
Notably, studies have also indicated that such treatments have the potential to not only restore cartilage tissue, but to also offer short term relief of symptoms.
A clinical trial comparing the umbilical cord blood stem cells to the conventional microfracture surgery revealed that the stem cell treatment group experienced a much better cartilage healing at the follow-up evaluations.
The new cartilage regenerated was stronger, had more collagen and exhibited better stiffness and elasticity than the weaker fibrous cartilage the conventional methods generated.
How Long Do Results Last?
The question of the duration of the stem cell therapy is one of the most frequently posed questions by the patients. Among patients, it has been found that 1 to 2 years of sustained improvement or even longer could be realized after treatment.
In the case of arthritis conditions, it has been reported that patients are able to receive between six months and five years of relief after one treatment session.
Effectiveness can be influenced by a number of factors such as the severity of the arthritis, age and general health of the patient, as well as lifestyle factors, like exercise and weight control. Research has indicated that patients in the early to moderated stages of arthritis are better responders and achieve lasting effects as compared to patients with severe and advanced degeneration of the joints.
A meta-analysis of umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy of knee arthritis showed that there were significant improvements in pain scores and functional outcomes of final follow-up evaluations.
The quality of repaired cartilage tissue was also verified in the studies evaluated and showed that stem cell therapy does not only decrease the symptoms but it in fact stimulates structural regeneration.
Safety and Effectiveness
The safety of mesenchymal stem cell therapy on arthritis has been well-captured in clinical trials. A systematic review did not find any significant difference in adverse events when using stem cell treatment groups and control groups, which proves stem cells as a potentially safe treatment option. Pain and swelling at the place of injection are the most reported and have no serious side effects when long-term effects are taken into consideration.
A study which compared stem cell therapy with placebo injection established that stem cell treatment could have a slight improvement in pain and functioning within a time span of six months after treatment.
Although only about 20% of patients might not record the desired outcome, most of them record having a serious reduction in pain and the ability to move. The range of motion, walking and overall quality of life measures have continued to improve as a result of the studies.
State of the Industry of Joint Regeneration
Stem cell therapy is a new paradigm of the treatment of arthritis. This is a regenerative treatment instead of progressive joint degeneration and it has the potential to literally repair damaged tissue and restore function. Stem cell therapy has been an alternative to joint replacement surgery or at least postponed the use of invasive procedures to many patients.
Although additional long-term research is required to fully comprehend the best treatment regimens and patient selection criteria, the existing evidence shows that mesenchymal stem cells of umbilical cord tissues have the potential to alleviate the pain of arthritis, enhance joint activity, and, possibly, restore the damaged cartilages.
Stem cell therapy is a scientifically-proven alternative to conventional arthritis treatment, and it is an alternative that treats the cause of joint degeneration instead of the symptoms.
