Level D· Preclinical Evidence
A Retrospective Study of Stromal Vascular Fraction Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis
Mehling B., Hric M., Salatkova A., Manvelyan M.
Chart review of 350 knee and hip osteoarthritis patients treated with autologous SVF between 2015 and 2018, reporting the proportion with improved pain and mobility.
- Study type
- Retrospective Study
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine Research (2020)
- Country
- Slovakia
- Sample size
- 350
- Follow-up
- 12 months
- PMID
- 33224377
- DOI
- 10.14740/jocmr4354
What was studied
Changes in pain and mobility after SVF cell therapy in routine practice.
Methods
- • Retrospective chart review of patients treated at Malacky Hospital.
Key findings
- • At 7 days, 45.2% reported improved pain and mobility.
- • At 3, 6 and 12 months, pain improvement was reported by 75.3%, 84.4% and 84.9%.
Limitations
- • Retrospective, uncontrolled and unblinded.
- • Relied on patient-reported change without imaging endpoints.
What this study does not prove
- • High response percentages do not establish that SVF caused the improvement.
- • 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
Large real-world dataset, but low-level evidence because there is no comparator.
Evidence level: Preclinical Evidence