The use of stromal vascular fraction (SVF), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells in the treatment of osteoarthritis: an overview of clinical trials

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability across the world, which its prevalence is relatively high in elder population. Current accepted therapies such as exercise, anti-inflammatory drugs and intra-articular inoculation of corticosteroids are aimed at controlling symptoms in the affected patients. Surgical options including arthroplasty, osteotomy and joint replacement are other choices of treatment, which are invasive and can be applied in case of failure of conventional therapies. In the last few decades, efforts to treat musculoskeletal diseases are being increasingly focused on regenerative cellular therapies. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF), which obtained from adipose tissue, contains a variety of cells include mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and has shown to be effective in cartilage repair. Autologous blood products such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) act as an adjuvant of surgical treatment and its intra-articular delivery has shown beneficial effects for OA treatment. Given the efficacy of such treatment approaches in OA, this paper discusses both preclinical and clinical evidence with major focus on clinical trials.