AUTHOR=Kim Stanley E. , Pozzi Antonio , Yeh Jiunn-chern , Lopez-Velazquez Mariana , Au Yong Jo Anne , Townsend Sarah , Dunlap Anna E. , Christopher Scott A. , Lewis Daniel D. , Johnson Matthew D. , Petrucci Kathryn 

TITLE=Intra-Articular Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Elbow Osteoarthritis in Dogs: A Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2019.00474

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2019.00474

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Intra-articular stem cell therapy may help alleviate lameness caused by osteoarthritis in dogs. Umbilical cord-derived stem cell (UMSC) therapy has not yet been investigated in a veterinary clinical study. We hypothesized that dogs treated with intra-articular UMSC will have improved limb function and quality of life when compared to dogs treated with a saline placebo injection.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> This was a prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial in client-owned dogs with chronic elbow osteoarthritis with a follow-up time of 6 months. Dogs were assigned to receive intra-articular UMSC (<italic>n</italic> = 38) or a saline placebo intra-articular injection (<italic>n</italic> = 30). Outcome measures included the Canine Brief Pain Inventory score (CBPI) and peak vertical force (PVF) from force-platform gait analysis. Treatment was considered successful when there was a decrease in the Pain Severity Score of at least one and a decrease in the Pain Interference Score of at least one from baseline. Success rates and PVF were compared between groups.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> No adverse effects associated with UMSC were noted. Of the dogs completing the study, treatment success in the UMSC (<italic>n</italic> = 28) vs. placebo groups (<italic>n</italic> = 23) was observed in 54 vs. 28% of dogs at 1 month, 50 vs. 27% at 3 months, and 46 vs. 14% at 6 months, respectively. Success rate in the UMSC group was significantly higher than the placebo group at 1 and 6 months after treatment. However, no differences in PVF of the affected limb over time was observed in either group.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Intra-articular UMSC for osteoarthritis may improve clinical signs based on owner observations.</p>