Level C· Early human research exploring benefits
Limited evidence for adipose-derived stem cell therapy on the treatment of osteoarthritis
Hurley E.T., Yasui Y., Gianakos A.L., Kennedy J.G.
A systematic review of 16 studies (14 knee, 1 ankle, 1 multiple joints): all reported clinical improvement, but preparation methods and outcome reporting were inconsistent.
Level C· Early human research exploring benefitsEvidence level of this study
Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.
- Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
- Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
- Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
- Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
- Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
- Study type
- Systematic Review
- Journal
- Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (2018)
- Country
- United States
- Sample size
- —
- Follow-up
- Varied across included studies
- PMID
- 29713784
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00167-018-4955-x
What was studied
Effects of ADSCs — prepared as SVF in every included study — on osteoarthritis in clinical practice.
Methods
- • Searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library to January 2017.
- • Analysed donor site, adipose volume, preparation, clinical outcomes and complication rate.
Key findings
- • 9 of 16 studies co-administered PRP and/or fibrin, confounding the SVF effect.
- • All studies reported clinical improvement, but with non-comparable outcome measures.
Limitations
- • Clinical variables and donor sites were inconsistent between studies.
- • Data predating 2017 may not reflect current techniques.
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
- • Limited follow-up cannot indicate long-term outcomes.
Clinical interpretation
A methodological caution that 'every study improved' is not the same as 'proven'.
Evidence level: Early human research exploring benefits